How Rasputin helped doom the Romanovs

Antony Beevor tells the story of Grigori Rasputin, the peasant healer who captivated Russia's last tsar and his consort, embroiling the Romanov dynasty in scandal and its own destruction

Published: March 16, 2026 at 8:00 AM

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The life of Grigori Rasputin, the Siberian peasant healer who wielded influence over the family of Russia’s last tsar, has fascinated the world for more than a century. Historian Antony Beevor speaks to Danny Bird about the man behind the myth and rumour, charting Rasputin’s humble origins in Siberia, his hold over Nicholas II and Alexandra, and his dramatic assassination at the hands of the imperial couple’s own relatives.

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Authors

Danny BirdContent producer

Danny Bird is a content producer at HistoryExtra

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