Known as the Mad Monk, Grigori Rasputin had great influence in the Russian Court. His actions added to the rising discontent that led to the Russian Revolution.

From a poor, rural background, Rasputin came to prominence when as a monk and mystic, he was brought into the Russian royal house to alleviate the suffering of the heir to the throne, Alexis Nikolayevich, who was afflicted with haemophilia.

Rasputin had a magnetic personality, which brought him favour with the Tsarina, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna and gave him power at Court. His reputation as a healer and his favoured position were aided by the recovery of the Tsarevich.

Rasputin had great influence and many of his friends were appointed to high positions. The monk himself soon gained a reputation for drunkenness, debauchery and taking bribes, especially when the Emperor was away in command of his troops at the start of WW1.

Rumours started that Rasputin was a German agent and as hatred for him and the way he had scandalised the Russian Court grew, plots were made against him. In December 1916, a group of aristocrats led by Prince Yusupov invited Rasputin to a midnight party at which he was assassinated.

As Boney M put it in their 1978 disco hit,

Ra Ra Rasputin, Russia’s greatest love machine;
And so they shot him till he was dead.