One of Russia’s most notorious characters met a grizzly demise.
Grigori Rasputin is widely recognized thanks to the popular 1978 song by Boney M. It introduces him with the memorable line ‘there was a man, in Russia long ago’ and continues to describe how he was irresistible to Russian women.
However, Rasputin’s story extends beyond the fame of a catchy disco tune, highlighting how he irked Russian aristocrats to the extent they resorted to drastic measures to end his life.
The song, which has seen renewed interest recently on TikTok, hints at Rasputin’s violent death.
In the final verse, the lyrics narrate: “They put some poison into his wine […] He drank it all and he said, ‘I feel fine’, ending with: “They didn’t quit, they wanted his head […] And so they shot him ’til he was dead.”
Yet, this only scratches the surface of the true events surrounding his death.
Rasputin rose from modest beginnings, capturing the attention of Russia’s elite with his charm.
He gained a reputation as a healer, mystic, and political radical.
By 1916, he had angered powerful figures in Russia, individuals most would avoid antagonizing.
But if you’ve formed any image of Rasputin, ‘sensible’ might not be the first word to come to mind.
So, what exactly did his adversaries do to him?
Nobles, including Felix Yusupov, enticed Rasputin to the Moika Palace in St Petersburg on December 29, 1916.
They led him to a cellar where he was offered pastries and wine.
You might have guessed these were poisoned with potassium cyanide.
Yet, after indulging in the poisoned treats, Rasputin seemed unaffected.
The plotters had to adjust their plan, resorting to shooting him, but even then, he did not succumb immediately, managing to stumble outside where they shot him again.
Ultimately, they wrapped Rasputin’s body in a cloth and discarded it into a frozen river.
The exact reason for Rasputin’s death remains unclear. Forensic analysis released later showed no water in his lungs, indicating he was likely deceased before being submerged.
Yusupov later recounted: “This devil who was dying of poison, who had a bullet in his heart, must have been raised from the dead by the powers of evil. There was something appalling and monstrous in his diabolical refusal to die.”