Rasputin and the Yurodivy: Holy Fool or Political Saint

Rasputin and the Ministerial Carousel of 1915-1916

In 1915-1916, as World War I dragged on, the Russian government collapsed into chaos as Tsar Nicholas II dismissed ministers at an astonishing rate. This episode explores the 'ministerial leapfrog' — the revolving door of appointments driven by Rasputin and Tsarina Alexandra's interference. We focus on key figures like Prime Minister Ivan Goremykin, the corrupt Boris Stürmer, and the ambitious Alexander Khvostov. The episode examines how Rasputin's influence, combined with Alexandra's distrust of the Duma, led to a paralyzed government that fueled revolution. We also discuss the role of the Okhrana and the political maneuvering that undermined the war effort. A fresh angle for regular listeners. #Rasputin #MinisterialLeapfrog #RussianEmpire #WWI #TsarNicholasII #TsarinaAlexandra #IvanGoremykin #BorisStürmer #AlexanderKhvostov #Okhrana #Duma #Petrograd #Stavka #1915 #1916 #History #FexingoHistory #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Rasputin's War Cabinet: The Ministerial Carousel of 1915-1916

In 1915, as Russia's armies reeled from the Great Retreat, Tsar Nicholas II made a fateful decision: he left for the front, handing domestic authority to Tsarina Alexandra. What followed was a chaotic revolving door of ministers appointed and dismissed under the influence of Grigori Rasputin. This episode examines the so-called 'ministerial leapfrog' — the rapid turnover of Prime Ministers, Interior Ministers, War Ministers, and Holy Synod officials from 1915 to 1916. We track specific figures: Ivan Goremykin, Boris Stürmer, Alexander Khvostov, and the bizarre rise of the illiterate peasant Mikhail Pitkevich. Drawing on the memoirs of Vladimir Kokovtsov and the Okhrana's surveillance records, we explore how Rasputin's patronage network — including the shady businessman Dmitry Rubinstein and the hypnotist Doctor Philippe — reshaped the Russian government at its most vulnerable moment. Was Rasputin a puppet master or a convenient scapegoat for the Tsarina's own political meddling? The evidence suggests a more complex picture of a crumbling autocracy where personal loyalty trumped competence. #Rasputin #RussianEmpire #MinisterialLeapfrog #TsarinaAlexandra #IvanGoremykin #BorisStürmer #AlexanderKhvostov #MikhailPitkevich #VladimirKokovtsov #DoctorPhilippe #DmitryRubinstein #Okhrana #WWI #EasternFront #FexingoHistory #History #Romanovs #Autocracy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Rasputin and the Romanov Women Beyond the Tsarina

When we think of Rasputin's influence on the Romanov family, the Tsarina Alexandra dominates the narrative. But what about the other women of the imperial household? In this episode, Lucas and Luna turn the spotlight on the Grand Duchesses — Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia — and their relationships with the starets. Using letters, memoirs, and Okhrana surveillance reports, they explore how the four daughters of Nicholas II reacted to Rasputin's presence at Tsarskoye Selo. Did they see him as a holy man, a charlatan, or something in between? How did the war shape their views? And what happened to Rasputin's letters to them after the Revolution? This is a fresh angle on a familiar figure, looking at the young Romanov women not just as victims of history but as individuals with their own perceptions and agency. Lucas draws on sources like the published correspondence of the Grand Duchesses and the memoirs of their tutor Pierre Gilliard to separate fact from the many myths. #Rasputin #Romanovs #GrandDuchesses #OlgaRomanova #TatianaRomanova #MariaRomanova #AnastasiaRomanova #TsarskoyeSelo #RussianHistory #ImperialRussia #Otma #PierreGilliard #Okhrana #RussianRevolution #TsarNicholasII #TsarinaAlexandra #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Rasputin's Assassination Cover-Up: The Okhrana's Secret Report

What did the imperial secret police really know about the plot to kill Grigori Rasputin? In the weeks after his murder, the Okhrana compiled a secret report that pieced together his final movements, the involvement of Felix Yusupov, Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, and Vladimir Purishkevich — and the Tsar's own role in burying the truth. This episode digs into that Okhrana dossier: its leaks from within the palace, the conflicting testimony, and how it became a propaganda tool in the 1917 Revolution. We explore the cover-up ordered by Nicholas II, the exile of the conspirators, and how the murder that was meant to save the monarchy instead sealed its fate. Featuring details from the Moika Palace, the Petrograd bridges, and the icy Malaya Nevka, this is the untold story of a cover-up that helped topple an empire. #Rasputin #Okhrana #FelixYusupov #GrandDukeDmitriPavlovich #VladimirPurishkevich #MoikaPalace #MalayaNevka #Petrograd #TsarNicholasII #1917Revolution #RussianEmpire #CoverUp #Assassination #Propaganda #History #FexingoHistory #EasternEurope #20thCentury Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Rasputin's Male Disciples: The Forgotten Followers

While much has been said about the women around Rasputin, his male disciples were equally crucial in spreading his influence across early 20th-century Russia. This episode focuses on figures like Dmitry Rubinstein, a financier who leveraged his Rasputin connection for immense profit; Vladimir Purishkevich, the monarchist who plotted his murder; and lesser-known followers like Mikhail Novosyolov, a theologian turned critic, and Prince Mikhail Andronnikov, a shadowy fixer who exploited access to Rasputin. We explore how these men shaped Rasputin's public image, his political network, and his eventual downfall. From the inner circles of Petrograd society to the radical right of the Duma, we uncover the complex web of patronage, betrayal, and ambition that defined Rasputin's male entourage. Why did some of his most devoted followers become his most determined enemies? This episode offers fresh insight into the human dynamics behind the myth. #Rasputin #RussianHistory #EasternEurope #MaleFollowers #DmitryRubinstein #VladimirPurishkevich #MikhailNovosyolov #MikhailAndronnikov #Petrograd #Duma #Okhrana #TsarinaAlexandra #TsarNicholasII #BlackHundreds #Finance #PoliticalIntrigue #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]