*Ra Ra Rasputin
Russia's greatest love machine*
Rasputin is one of the most mysterious and dark individuals of Russian history.
Russia's greatest love machine*
Rasputin is one of the most mysterious and dark individuals of Russian history.
Having decided that Rasputin's influence over the Tsarina had made him a threat to the empire, a group of nobles led by Prince Felix Yusupov, the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, and the right-wing politician Vladimir Purishkevich concocted a plan to kill him in December 1916.
According to Yusupov, he invited Rasputin to his home shortly after midnight, and ushered him into the basement. Yusupov offered Rasputin tea and cakes which had been laced with cyanide. To Yusupov's surprise, Rasputin did not appear to be affected by the poison.
Rasputin then asked for some Madeira wine (which had also been poisoned) and drank three glasses, but still showed no sign of distress. At around 2:30 am, Yusupov excused himself to go upstairs, where his fellow conspirators were waiting.
Taking a revolver from Dmitry Pavlovich, Yusupov returned to the basement and, referring to a crucifix that was in the room, told Rasputin that he'd "better look at the crucifix and say a prayer," then shot him once in the chest.
Believing him to be dead, they drove to Rasputin's apartment. Upon returning to the Moika Palace, Yusupov went back to the basement to ensure that Rasputin was dead. Suddenly, Rasputin leaped up and attacked Yusupov, who – with some effort – freed himself and fled upstairs.
Rasputin followed, and made it into the palace's courtyard before being shot by Purishkevich and collapsing into a snowbank. The conspirators then wrapped his body in cloth, drove it to the Petrovsky Bridge and dropped it into the Malaya Nevka River.
In short, they tried to kill him about 15 times.
