Throughout the 20th century many books have been written about the fall of the Romanov Empire in Russia. It was a dynasty that had been in power for over three hundred year and ends with the last Romanov family being murdered. Tsar Nicholas and his family have been made famous through the many movies and books that tell of their tragedy. Over the past 80 years the Romanov story has become legend, like a fairy tale; but in this fairy tale one man stands out. This man, Rasputin, although he was not royalty, was close to the family and had a hand in its downfall. Rasputin Gregory Yefimovich was a peasant and a self proclaimed holy man. He was born in 1872 in the Siberian village of Pokrovskoye to a simple village family. He faced many tribulations early in his life. He lost his mother at and early age and the death of his brother followed shortly after. Growing up he was looked upon negatively for the trouble that he was involved in. Even at a young age villagers always discussed his eccentric personality. However, he married around 1889 and had four children. In 1901 he left his family on a pilgrimage which took him to many holy places in Siberia and Russia. All the way he preached and he soon became known not only for his supposed healing powers, but the sexual exploits that he was involved in as well. In 1903 Rasputin found himself in St. Petersburg, Russia. There he became well known in the high class circles as an extraordinary spiritual man. Popular religion, exoticism and spiritualism were all fashionable at the time in the Russian aristocracy's inner circles. Through these fads, Rasputin made a name for himself and in 1905 he met the ruler of Russia himself, Tsar Nicholas. At the time it was just becoming known t... ... middle of paper ... ...d seem to focus on one part of Rasputin's life and to each a different part. These writers are not merely just fiction authors, they are known in the academic world as authoritative figures on the subject that they are writing on. However, that doesn't mean that they are not affected by the myth surrounding Rasputin. What is true is that each author wrote the best book that they could with though material that was available to them. Works Cited Liepman, Heinz. Rasputin and the Fall of Imperial Russia. New York: Rolton House Inc., 1959. Massie, Robert K. Nicholas and Alexandra. New York: Ballentine Books, 1967. Pares, Sir Bernard. The Fall of the Russian Monarchy. New York: Random House Inc., 1939. Radzinsky, Edvard. The Last Tsar. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Radzinsky, Edvard. The Rasputin Files. New York: Doubleday, 2002.
With the coinciding of a revolution on the brink of eruption and the impacts of the First World War beginning to take hold of Russia, considered analysis of the factors that may have contributed to the fall of the Romanov Dynasty is imperative, as a combination of several factors were evidently lethal. With the final collapse of the 300 year old Romanov Dynasty in 1917, as well as the fall of Nicholas II, a key reality was apparent; the impact that WWI had on autocratic obliteration was undeniable. However, reflection of Russia’s critical decisions prior is essential in the assessment of the cause of the fall of the Romanov Dynasty.
While the tsar was off defending the country, a strange 'monk' named Rasputin made his way into governmental affairs. Because of his ability to ease the pain of the tsar's sick young prince, Alexandra gave him great political control in the affairs of state. Rasputin had dismissed twenty-one ministers and replaced them with men of great incompetence.
Not only did the Romanov family have to go through a terrible death sentence, but they were ridiculed and belittled at almost every possible chance along the way by the Bolsheviks. They were forced to live in awful conditions, to be tormented because of vicious gossip and rumors, and to find a way to keep their faith when they had no opportunity. The Russian Imperial family had to endure all of this and more, just because of their bad luck and poor judgment.
Gregory Efimovich Rasputin No other figure in recent Russian history has received the amount of
Grigory Yefimovich Novykh was born on January 23, 1871, in Tobolsk, Russia (DISCovering). “He earned the name Rasputin which is Russian for ‘debauched one’” (Rasputin). “Grigory Rasputin was born in western Siberia, in the town of Pokrovskoe,”says another source (Fuhrmann 1). The name “Grigory” indicates Rasputin may have been born on January 10, the day dedicated to St. Grigory of Nicea (Fuhrmann 1). Although the actual date and place of birth cannot be determined, one fact is known for certain: Rasputin had an influence over the health of the young Aleksey Nickolayovich, “hemophiliac heir to the Russian throne” (Rasputin). Grigory had been against war, but was recognized for his drunkeness (Radzinsky 271). Before Rasputin got his job with the Russian family, he lived off donations from peasants because of his claim of being a “self- proclaimed holy man” (Rasputin).
Grigory Rasputin was born into a Russian Orthodox family and grew up in a mainly Russian Orthodox town named Pokrovskoye, Siberia. In the late 1890’s Rasputin went on a religious journey to the Verkhoturye Monastery in Siberia. At Verkhoturye Monastery, Rasputin was introduced to a fellow Russian monk who greatly influenced Rasputin’s ways and convinced Rasputin to stop drinking, smoking, and stop his carnivorous habits. After his visit to the monastery, Rasputin was officially considered a strannik, which is a Russian religious pilgrim. After returning home from Verkhoturye, Rasputin was noticed by his fellow peers and family as a changed man with holy and or mystical powers. Around 1898, Rasputin claimed to see Our Lady of Kazan (also called the Theotokos of Kazan) who is the Russian Orthodox version of the Virgin Mary whom is supposed to protect the city of Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Rasputin had supposedly witnessed a theophany of the Virgin Mary as the Russian Orthodox Church views the Virgin Mary as a holy being. After seeing Our Lady of Kazan, Rasputin then began his journey of religious mysticism.
While living in St. Petersburg, Raskolnikov adopted several of the many new ideas running through the intellectual circles of the time. He even published an article on one in particular. These ideas opened a rift in Raskolnikov himself.
In mid-19th century Russia, an oppressive rule is a result of the Romanov monarchy and this in... ... middle of paper ... ... ition to being important in portraying Raskolnikov's changing personality. By making such dissimilarity between the two ways that the two characters affect Raskolnikov, we are able to see his downfall and subsequent rise much more clearly.
The topic of this investigation is to analyze to what extent did the personal influence of Grigori Rasputin lead to the fall of the Russian Empire. The analysis will investigate the relationship of Rasputin to those in positions of power, starting from the time when Rasputin first treated Alexei to the last days of the Romanov Dynasty. Statements from those acquainted with Rasputin and historical analyses of Rasputin’s life will be analyzed to elucidate the extent of Rasputin’s influence.
The vicious nature of the attacks upon the "old forms" of Russian culture, especially those waged by the Nihilists of the late 1860s, provides ample material for exploring this important question. Fortunately, for those anxious about the condition of our own culture, Fyodor M. Dostoevsky, "the most sagacious student of political economy in the Russia of the 1840s,"1 kept his hand to the pulse of Russia's intelligentsia. Dostoevsky's preoccupation with that same question is understandable given the exigencies of Russian life in his time. When, in l861, the "Tsar-Emancipator," Alexander II, liberated the serfs, pent-up forces for social change were unleashed. In Dostoevsky: The Stir of Liberation; 1860-65, 2 Joseph Frank notes:
Historical Essay: The role of internal and external forces in the collapse of the Tsar
Firstly, Repin’s life spanned a vast and turbulent time in Russian history. Born in 1844 and living until 1930, Repin witnessed key events such as World War I, the Assassination of Alexander II and the emancipation of the serfs. The latter event played a key role in Repin’s early childhood.
Misunderstandings happen in our everyday lives, but when is one misunderstanding one too many that can ultimately leave a country in ruins? The Family Romanov written by Candace Fleming is a nonfiction piece set in the time span of 1903 to 1918 filled with the experience of life in the Russian autocracy under the Romanov rule as a peasant, royal and rebel. This story tells us about the downfall of the once greatly praised Russian autocracy, Fleming takes the reader on a journey featuring the rise, but more so the downfall of their rule. After centuries of reign, the Romanov line has a final ruler, Nicholas II, decisions are made and blood is spilled. But, how far would the people of Russia go for a fair government and how oblivious is not
...ce, although both writings are interesting in their own ways, the most interesting aspect of both writings together is that they both have a similar plot and theme. It is rare that two
Riasanovsky, Nicholas V., and Mark D. Steinberg. A History of Russia. 7th ed. Oxford: Oxford, 2005. Print.