Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian mystic and holy man who was best known for his friendship with the imperial family. He was born on January 21, 1869, in the small village of Pokrovskoye to a hardworking peasant family. Unfortunately, not much was known about Rasputin’s background since there was no documentation of his early years. At best, the public knew that the mystic came from an impoverished family and was most likely illiterate. Other records hinted that Rasputin was also an unruly youth who had a habit of drinking and committing small thefts.
Before he became a holy man, Rasputin was living in Abalak where he was married to a peasant girl named Praskovya Dubrovina. They got married in February 1887 and his wife remained devoted to him even after his assassination. In 1897, Rasputin had a religious experience and embarked on a pilgrimage to become a monk. It’s unclear whether he achieved his goal because there were no official records sharing his position within the Russian Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, Rasputin positioned himself as a faith healer, eventually catching the attention of the Romanov family.
In November 1905, Rasputin was introduced to Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra of Russia. They recruited his healing powers to help ease the suffering of their son, Prince Alexei, who was afflicted with haemophilia. While the holy man’s presence helped their son’s illness, the royal court was wary of Rasputin’s unconventional lifestyle and dangerous influence on the royal family. When the Emperor left Saint Petersburg to visit the frontlines, Rasputin allegedly worked his powers over the Empress, causing further concerns among court advisers and the Romanovs’ relatives.
Rasputin’s life soon came to an end when he was assassinated by a group of Russian aristocrats. However, his death only made the holy man even more infamous and controversial. Rasputin’s life was investigated and more questions came to light regarding his hidden agenda and sexuality. So, was Rasputin gay? Let’s see what history has to say for itself.
VOTE: What was Rasputin’s Sexuality?
Rasputin’s Controversial Life
Although Rasputin was already known within social circles as a mystic, his rise to infamy happened when he entered the royal family. Apparently, the Empress strongly believed that the faith healer was important to Alexie’s survival. On several occasions, Rasputin was reported to have stopped the prince’s pain and bleeding. He would enter the room, pray for the prince, spit at him, and he would miraculously recover.
Experts are still baffled as to how Rasputin was able to create these “miracles.” Some argued that his presence helped calm the Empress which in turn prevented her from stressing Alexei when he was sick. Other historians believed that Rasputin used hypnosis to “cure” the prince from his illness. A more logical theory stated that the mystic discontinued the use of aspirin for Alexei. This may have proven to be beneficial for the prince because, at the time, they weren’t aware that it also functioned as an anti-clotting agent.
Whatever the origins of Rasputin’s power didn’t matter because he truly had a strong hold over the Empress. So much so that the court and public started speculating that a romantic affair was going on behind the palace doors. Political cartoons started portraying Rasputin and the Empress in compromising situations. Meanwhile, rumors that the holy man was controlling the imperial family started circulating.
Even the Emperor’s extended family was horrified at the extent of Rasputin’s access within and palace and towards the royal children. On one occasion, it was discovered that the mystic often visited the Emperor’s daughters in their nursery while they were in their nightgowns. This news was reported by the children’s nanny but the Empress only fired her as a response. Despite strong-worded letters from the Emperor’s siblings, the royal couple continued to keep Rasputin within their inner circle.
Aside from Rasputin’s association with the imperial family, he was also a notorious public figure. His healing powers have spread across Russia but so did his unconventional lifestyle. According to sources, Rasputin was known to accept bribes and sexual favors in exchange for expanding his hidden agendas. Many people would accuse the holy man of heresy, rape, and having sexual relations with all types of people.
As Rasputin’s hold on the Romanovs grew stronger, so did the court’s disdain for the holy figure. It was believed that he was a danger to the monarchy and a plot to eliminate him was quickly hatched.
Rasputin’s Assassination
Before Rasputin’s death, there had already been an assassination attempt on his life. On July 12, 1914, a peasant woman named Chionya Guseva stabbed him in the stomach outside of his home. Although he was seriously injured, Rasputin survived the attack which further supported the claims that he was immortal.
Rasputin would not be lucky the second time around. In December 1916, Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich and Prince Felix Yusupov concocted a plan to eliminate Rasputin and end his mystical hold over the imperial family. They were joined by other aristocrats and managed to lure Rasputin to the Moika Palace.
The details of Rasputin’s death are only speculations. According to historians, the nearest accurate account would be Yusupov’s memoirs. Based on the prince’s writings, they attempted to poison Rasputin by giving him cakes and wine laced with cyanide. When the mystic seemed unfazed, Yusupov took a revolver and shot the mystic in the chest.
As the conspirators covered their tracks, Rasputin tried to escape. He was shot at least three times with one fatal gunshot in the head. His body was then wrapped in cloth and dumped in the Little Nevka River. Rasputin’s corpse was found days later and buried at a small church. During the revolution, the mystic’s body was exhumed and burned, preventing it from becoming a rallying point for royalists.
Was Rasputin Gay?
No, Rasputin wasn’t gay. There are no records stating or proving that the mystic had sexual relationships with other men. However, there were rumors that he tended to sleep around within his social circle, including his female followers. At one point, it was believed that Rasputin was having an affair with the Empress of Russia. All of these claims were unproven so he was likely straight. It’s also worth mentioning that Rasputin was married and had three children.
Featured Image: “Rasputin”, by Unknown, licensed under PDM 1.0 DEED