Grigori Rasputin was a controversial figure in the early 20th century who became a prominent political and religious figure in Imperial Russia. Known for his rumored mystical powers and controversial personal life, Rasputin was both revered and reviled during his lifetime.
Rasputin was known for being quite the character in his time. He was often at the center of controversy, and even now, many years after his death, he continues to capture people’s attention.
As someone who was notorious for stirring up controversy, it’s unsurprising that Rasputin is once again in the public eye, with many now questioning his sexual orientation. There are some who suggest that he may have been gay. But how true are these speculations and rumors? Keep reading to find out.
Background
Grigori Rasputin was born in the small village of Pokrovskoye in Siberia in 1869 to Yefim and Anna Parshukova. His parents were peasants, and he grew up with little education.
It is unclear the exact number of siblings that Rasputin had, however, records suggest the number to be around 8. Unfortunately, all of his siblings passed away tragically either in infancy or early childhood.
He traveled to Abalak, Russia, in 1886, where he met his future wife, Praskovya Dubrovina. After a period of courtship, the pair got married a year later. Praskovya stayed back in Pokrovskoye, where she remained faithful and devoted to Rasputin while he traveled the world searching for purpose.
During this time, he developed a reputation for his alleged divine powers, including the ability to heal the sick, and many people began to seek him out for his spiritual guidance.
Before embarking on the pilgrimage that would eventually change the course of his life, Rasputin had been involved in other minor pilgrimages. It is said that he visited the Holy Znamensky Monastery at Abalak, but it was his journey to St. Nicholas Monastery at Verkhoturye that had the most impact on his life.
There, he was touched by a starets named Makary, and his interest in gaining an education and pursuing a purpose in life grew. He stayed in Verkhoturye for a period, and it was there that he learned how to read and write.
During his major pilgrim years, Rasputin visited several holy sites, including Mount Athos. His reputation as a mystic and a healer grew, and he began to catch the eye of prominent individuals.
One such individual was Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. Alexandra was particularly taken with Rasputin’s supposed ability to heal her son, Alexei Nikolaevich, who suffered from hemophilia.
Rasputin became a close confidant of the royal family, and his influence grew over time. He began to give advice on political matters, and his opinions were sometimes sought by the tsar himself.
Personal Life
Rasputin’s personal life was notoriously scandalous. He was known for his excessive drinking and womanizing, and rumors of his sexual exploits ran rampant.
Despite his popularity and religious standing, Rasputin was widely known as a charlatan. He used his position to further his own interests, accepting bribes and engaging in questionable behavior.
There were several rumors that he had been engaging in sexual activities with female followers and that they would wash him before he had any religious meetings. Some even accused him of using his supposed mystical powers to seduce women.
He was only married once to Praskovya Dubrovina, and together, they had seven children, however, 4 died prematurely, leaving just Dmitry, Varvara, and Maria.
What Triggered The Rumor About Rasputin’s Sexuality?
Despite the fact that Rasputin was married and had sexual relationships with numerous women throughout his lifetime, there were still rumors and speculations about his sexuality. So what triggered these rumors?
One possibility is that Rasputin’s past involvement with the Khlysty, an underground spiritual Christian sect, may have contributed to these rumors. The Khlysty were known for engaging in extreme practices, including self-flagellation and sexual orgies, which were considered taboo at the time.
It is possible that Rasputin’s association with this sect, which was often associated with sexual deviancy, led some people to speculate about his own sexual preferences. Additionally, the fact that Rasputin had close relationships with both men and women may have also contributed to these speculations.
Rasputin’s time spent on pilgrimage and staying in various monasteries may have also played its own part in the talks about his sexuality. During this time, there were rumors that many monks were homosexuals, and it is possible that he may have been involved in some of their activities.
For example, while staying at St. Nicholas Monastery in Verkhoturye, Rasputin reportedly accused the monks there of being homosexuals.
Is The Rumor True?
While there are certainly speculations about Rasputin’s sexuality during his lifetime, there is no evidence to suggest that he was gay. In fact, as mentioned previously, Rasputin had many sexual relationships with women throughout his life and was even married.
Furthermore, there were accounts that Rasputin was having sex with his female followers and many other women. These accounts suggest that Rasputin was a heterosexual man who enjoyed sexual relationships with women.
He had also previously spoken openly against homosexuality while he was in St. Nicholas Monastery at Verkhoturye. He accused the monks there of being homosexuals, and he eventually left the monastery because he could no longer condone their activities.
Religious Journey
Before embarking on the pilgrimage that would eventually change the course of his life, Rasputin had been involved in other minor pilgrimages. It is said that he visited the Holy Znamensky Monastery at Abalak, but it was his journey to St. Nicholas Monastery at Verkhoturye that had the most impact on his life.
There, he was touched by a starets named Makary, and his interest in gaining an education and pursuing a purpose in life grew. He stayed in Verkhoturye for a period, and it was there that he learnt how to read and write.
After a while, Rasputin observed that the monks were engaging in homosexual activities, and he voiced his disgust.
Eventually, he returned to Pokrovskoye transformed, forsaking alcohol, meat, womanizing and other vain pursuits he previously had. He became more religious, prayed more, and observed holy rights and ceremonies.
During his major pilgrim years, Rasputin visited several holy sites, including Mount Athos. His reputation as a mystic and a healer grew, and he began to catch the eye of prominent individuals.
One such individual includes Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. Alexandra was particularly taken with Rasputin’s supposed ability to heal her son, Alexei Nikolaevich, who suffered from hemophilia.
Rasputin became a close confidant of the royal family, and his influence grew over time. He began to give advice on political matters, and his opinions were sometimes sought by the tsar himself.
He became so close to the tsar that he was able to ask for his name to be changed to “Rasputin-Noviy,” a request which was promptly granted.
In 1914, Chionya Guseva, a commoner, attempted to kill Rasputin outside his home. He was stabbed in the stomach and was severely wounded.
After undergoing surgery following the incident, Rasputin recovered. He continued his trend of politicking and controversial pursuits, and this behavior eventually led to his downfall.
In December 1916, a group of aristocrats, including Prince Felix Yusupov, lured Rasputin to Yusupov’s palace and murdered him. He received three gunshots to the head, one of which was at close range.
The reason for his assassination has been a subject of speculation; however, it is generally accepted that it had something to do with the level of influence Rasputin had over the tsar.
Achievements
Rasputin’s influence over the royal family was both praised and criticized during his lifetime. Supporters saw him as a holy man with the power to heal and bring spiritual enlightenment, while detractors saw him as a manipulative charlatan who was corrupting the tsar’s government.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the question of whether or not Grigori Rasputin was gay remains a matter of speculation and debate. Although some may suggest that he may have been involved in homosexual activities, there is no real evidence to support these claims.
Instead, the available evidence strongly suggests that Rasputin was straight as he was romantically involved with only women throughout his adult life.
Rasputin was a complex and controversial figure who left a lasting impact on Russian history. His alleged mystical powers, influence over the royal family, and scandalous personal life continue to captivate people’s imaginations to this day.
