Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian mystic with an influence in the later days of Russia's Romanov dynasty. Rasputin played an important role in the lives of the Tsar Nicholas II, his wife the Tsarina Alexandra, and their only son the Tsarevich Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia coming from Queen Victoria.

Rasputin has often been called the Mad Monk or Icha, although the origins of the second name are not known. He was never a monk and made no secret of being married. Some considered him to be a "strannik" (religious pilgrim) or even a starets ("elder", a title usually reserved for monk-confessors) and believed him to be a psychic and faith healer. He can be considered one of the more controversial characters in 20th century history, although Rasputin is viewed by most historians today as a scapegoat. He played a small but spectacular role in the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... i_Rasputin View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • 1910s • Aquarius • Assassinated • January 22 • Russia • Russia (Europe) • Spirituality • People