WI: No Rasputin

[eltf177]

We all know that Rasputin was a major part of the downfall of the Romanov's. So what if he never existed or got into the Royal Court?

I still see Russia losing the war and Nicky going down but overall I think both will fare a bit better and the Romanov's not remembered so badly.

What say you?

 

[trurle]

Rasputin got attention of Imperial family because he was somehow able to control the condition of (haemophilic) Alexei - heir to imperial throne. And the illness of heir Alexei was much more damaging to image of Russian imperial family compared to even Rasputin - it was widely attributed either to "degeneration of bloodline" or to "wrath of god". Well, if you let Alexei to die early, Rasputin will naturally fail to appear - and chances for monarchy to survive are changing from "impossible" to just "improbable".

 

[Kerguelen]

Didn't Rasputin tell Nicholas that Russia would only win WW1 if the Tsar personally led the army, despite the fact that Nicky had zero military experience? It would be intresting to see an alternate WW1 Eastern Front without Nicky's blundering harming the Russian war effort.

 

[eltf177]

Nicky fired the general leading the armies due to Rasputin (the two didn't get along, so Rasputin whispered into Alexandra's ear who passed along "Our Friend's" concerns to the Tsar). Rasputin's interference had a profound effect, I feel even more than Alexei's hemophilia.