Milica presented Rasputin to Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra (below) on 1 November 1905 and that was the beginning of his influence on Russia as a whole (or at least his perceived influence).

Tsar Nicholas had heard of Rasputin’s healing powers and enlisted him to help out with his son Tsarevich Alexei who had been injured and wouldn’t stop bleeding (hemophilia was rife in the royals back then). Despite doctors predicting the youngster’s death, the day after Rasputin’s intervention the boy began his recovery to health.

Tsar Nicholas and Alexandra lived very secluded lives, away from political life, away from Russian life in general. So the fact that some scruff from Siberia got to regularly visit them started ruffling some ruling class feathers. It wasn’t long before a smear campaign against him was embarked upon. A rumour was spread that Rasputin had joined the Khlysty, an obscure Christian sect with Siberian roots. There’s no evidence that he was part of this weird cult, but he did pick up some of their weird beliefs…

☛ Next Up: 28 Rare And Dramatic Photos From History