Many people know that Rasputin was religious symbol all throughout Russia. He was loved by the Czarina Alexandra and had a lot of political power while Nicholas II was fighting in World War I. Many people also know that he was murdered, but it took a very long time for him to actually die.

Rasputin was born in Siberia as a muzhik also known as a peasant. As a teenager he went through a religious conversion and declared himself a healer and also claimed he had the ability to predict the future. Rasputin entered the Verkhoture Monastery in Russia with hopes of becoming a monk but later left to get married. When he was 19 years old he married Proskovia Fyodovna and then had three children. In his early twenties he traveled to Greece and the Middle East. Some say that he made several pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

He then won favor with Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra because they believed he had the ability to stop the bleeding of their hemophiliac son, Alexei. However, he was criticized for his drunkenness. Rasputin then gained much political power in Russia because Nicholas was fighting with the Russian forces in World War I

The only son of the czar Nicholas II was Alexei Romanov however he had hemophilia. Hemophilia is disease that stops the clotting of blood, so even the smallest cut could be fatal. No doctors were able to help Alexei with this disorder, so the czarina, Alexandra, called on Rasputin. People believed that Rasputin had magical healing powers because he was able to do things that no one was able to explain. He did manage to help Alexei on a regular basis. Alexandra was very protective of Rasputin because of this. Alexandra and Nicholas II kept their son’s hemophilia a secret so many people believed that Alexandra was having an affair with Rasputin.

As a group of nobles became fearful of Rasputin’s power plotted to kill Rasputin (they were not only fearful of his power, but they also believed that he was planning to make separate peace with the Germans). The nobles gave Rasputin monk food and wine which they had laced with cyanide. His body, however, did not react to the poison. They then shot him several times believing that he was dead. A little bit later. He was found trying to escape. They then shot him again and beat him. They then bound Rasputin but he was still alive, so they tossed him into a freezing river. His body was found a few days later and the two main conspirators were exiled.

 His first name was Grigori  Some people believe that Rasputin meant licentious in Russian which means promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters. Others believe that it meant “where two rivers meet”  Rasputin was unable to read or write because he never received a good education  Rasputin predicted his own death. He predicted that he would soon be killed he just did not know who would be the one to kill him. Soon before he died he said to the Royal Court “I am to be killed. If I am killed by my own people, by the peasants, then you will continue to rule in peace and harmony. However, if I am killed by the noble class, then within two years, you and your children and all the royal family will be no more.

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5

What Russian city was Rasputin born in? A. Moscow Moscow B. Omsk Omsk C. Siberia Siberia D. St. Petersburg St. Petersburg

What was Rasputin's First name? A. Girgori Girgori B. Alexei Alexei C. Nicholas Nicholas D. Rasputin Rasputin

What was Rasputin When he was Born? A. Monk Monk B. Peasant Peasant C. Preacher Preacher D. Healer Healer

What disease did Alexei have? A. Cancer Cancer B. Cholera Cholera C. Malaria Malaria D. Hemophilia Hemophilia

What Actually Killed Rasputin? A. Drowning Drowning B. Being Shot Being Shot C. Poison Poison D. Being beaten Being beaten

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