22. The Scandal That Helped Destroy a Dynasty
In one of history’s worst decisions, Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his wife the Tsarina Alexandra put their faith in Grigori Rasputin, an illiterate peasant religious charlatan. After gaining the royal couple’s confidence with his holy man act, Rasputin transformed Russia’s rulers, particularly the impressionable Tsarina Alexandra, into his puppets. He offered them advice on governance, which the royal couple accepted in the belief that Rasputin was blessed by God and would not lead them astray. He led them to disaster.
Rasputin kept up a pretense of being a humble and holy man in the royal family’s presence. Beyond their gaze, he was a depraved drunk who claimed that his body had holy healing powers, and led a Christian sex cult that engaged in wild orgies. It seemed that everybody in Russia was aware of the scandal, except for the Tsar and Tsarina. Russia’s ruling couple were unwilling to hear any criticism of their pet holy man, and turned on those who spoke ill of Rasputin. Towards the end of his life, Rasputin was wielding such influence over Russia’s ruling couple that ministers, high-ranking officials, and generals, were appointed and dismissed based upon his advice.