🪆c. 1916 | Rasputin in the Imperial Capital (Petrograd) What you’re seeing: An AI-assisted recreation of Grigori Rasputin walking alone along a frozen riverside embankment in winter Petrograd. How did he end up in Petrograd? Born in Siberia, Rasputin became a wandering religious figure. By the early 1900s he reached St. Petersburg (later Petrograd), where clergy and aristocratic circles fascinated by “elders” helped elevate his reputation. How did the Romanovs meet him? He was introduced through influential clergy and high society, then gained Empress Alexandra’s trust. The bond deepened because the family believed he could help their son Alexei, who had hemophilia. What was his influence? His biggest power was access. His closeness to the imperial family, especially Alexandra, fueled scandal and became a political liability during World War I. Claims that he “ran Russia” are often exaggerated, but the perception of influence badly damaged the court’s credibility. Was he a drunk ...