1. Grigori Rasputin

2. Who Was Rasputin? Was a Russian peasant Became known as the “Mad Monk”
Actually not a monk
Became very close to Nicholas II and his family early 1900’s
Believed to have magical powers

3. Connection with Tsar Alexei was Nicholas II’s son
Alexei suffered from hemophilia
Hemophilia is when it is difficult to stop bleeding (scabs do not form easily)
Bleeding can also be internal
Every time Alexei got hurt, Rasputin was always able to give him some relief

5. Alexei

6. Problems with Rasputin
Accused of being a German spy
Helped pick friends for political positions
Disliked by the Russian Orthodox Church
Predicted that the Russian army would fail if Nicholas II did not take it over
Believed to be a negative influence on the royal family

7. Rasputin’s Assassination
Mystery surrounding Rasputin’s murder
A group of nobles were convinced that Rasputin was only hurting the royal family
They invite Rasputin to a midnight tea December 16th, 1916
They give him cake and wine laced with potassium cyanide (heating it)

8. Rasputin’s Assassination
The cyanide does not work
Rasputin’s daughter said he avoided anything with sugar
The nobles shot him and continued partying
He was still alive, tried to escape, so they shot and clubbed him
He was then wrapped up and thrown into a hole in the frozen Neva River

10. Autopsy Results
Alcohol, no poison was found in body when it was discovered two days later
Hands were found in a frozen and raised position
This means he may have been alive when thrown in river