S4 – 8_ A Time to Live - The Mad Chauffeur and the Reign of Rasputin

The Parable of the Mad Chauffeur: On $09/17/1915$ , a journalist for the Moscow Gazette and a member of the Duma (Russia's parliament) published a story metaphorsizing the Russian state as a car careening down a steep, narrow road toward destruction.
- The Driver: Tsar Nicholas II was depicted as a mad chauffeur asleep at the wheel, then tightening his grip and screaming for no one to touch him as passengers (the Russian people) attempted to trade places to save their lives.
- The Conflict: Both action (trying to take the wheel) and inaction appeared to lead to the same carnage.
The Reality of War: In $1915$ , Russia was defined by death, grief, blood, and failure.
- Supplies, reinforcements, and hospitals were planned poorly.
- Trains filled with dying soldiers were parked on tracks because there was no medical facility capable of unloading the "priceless cargo."
- Public perception shifted to see the "steel coffins" of war as the definitive stamp of the Romanov dynasty on history.
Aristocratic Anger: Discontent spread beyond the peasantry to the Duma and aristocratic families whose sons were dying at the front. They demanded answers regarding the Tsar’s plan to alleviate the suffering.

Removal of Nikolasha: Rather than delegating power, Nicholas II decided to take personal command of the army. He removed his "muscle-bound cousin," Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaevich (known as Nikolasha), from his leadership role.
Description of Stavka: The Russian military headquarters, Stavka, was located off the Moscow-Warsaw Road. It was nestled between pine and birch trees, protected by ring after ring of sentries.
- Nicholas found the environment "invigorating" and "masculine," reminding him of his youth in the cavalry.
Mystical Conviction: Nicholas’s decision was rooted in religious fervor. While standing in a cathedral, fixated on an image of Jesus, he believed he heard a voice telling him that the loss of the war with Japan ten years prior was due to his absence from the front.
Response to Opposition: His decision was universally unpopular, drawing criticism even from other members of the Romanov family. When his ministers begged him to reconsider in late August $1915$ , Nicholas remained unmoved, clutching an icon given to him by Grigori Rasputin.

Felix Yusupov’s Perspective: Felix Yusupov, a wealthy aristocrat, noted that the elite believed Rasputin had manipulated Nicholas into going to the front specifically to isolate the Tsar and leave Empress Alexandra under Rasputin’s power in Petrograd.
Alexandra’s Reality: Contrary to public belief, Alexandra and Rasputin initially urged Nicholas to stay in the capital. Alexandra’s letters revealed a fear that without her influence, Nicholas would be manipulated by "liars" and incompetent generals at Stavka.
Wartime Contributions: Alexandra threw herself into war work despite suffering from severe sciatica. Her efforts included:
- Organizing hospital trains.
- Facilitating the collection of dressings and the sewing of garments for the wounded.
- Setting up hospitals in Petrograd and Tsarskoye Selo.
Political Ideology: Alexandra was a firm believer in absolute monarchy, famously writing to Nicholas, "Russia, thank God, is not a constitutional country."

The "Leapfrog" Phenomenon: With Nicholas at the front, Alexandra began a process historians call "ministerial leapfrog," frequently firing and hiring top officials (Prime Ministers, heads of police, Ministers of the Interior) based on their loyalty to Rasputin.
The Loyalty Test: The primary qualification for a government post was a candidate's opinion of Rasputin. Those who opposed the "Friend" were pushed out of power.
The Role of Grigori Rasputin:
- Rasputin viewed his involvement in appointments as a matter of self-preservation due to multiple assassination attempts.
- He sought to ensure allies held positions like the Head of Police or Minister of the Interior.
The "Troika" and Khvostov: Alexei Khvostov, the Minister of the Interior, is a primary example of corruption during this era.
- Initially posing as an ally to Rasputin to gain the position, he quickly turned against him.
- Khvostov plotted to have Rasputin thrown from a speeding train or poisoned with a bottle of wine.
- He attempted to bribe the exiled monk Iliador with $60,000$ rubles to arrange an assassination from Norway.

Ethnic Politics: As millions of Russian soldiers died fighting Germany, Alexandra’s German heritage became a focal point of public hatred.
Boris Sturmer: In January $1916$ , Boris Sturmer was appointed Prime Minister at the recommendation of Alexandra and Rasputin. His German-sounding name and perceived incompetence fueled rumors of a pro-German plot to sabotage Russia from within the palace.
Fractures in the Orthodox Church: Rasputin influenced the appointment of Bishop Varnava, a poorly educated peasant like himself.
- This appointment went against the wishes of the Holy Synod (the ruling body of the church).
- Alexandra further alienated the pious by replacing the Chief Procurator of the church with a bureaucrat and reassigning bishops to place Rasputin’s allies in Petrograd.

Domestic Life: Rasputin lived in a modest five-room apartment. His rent was $121$ rubles a month, paid by the Empress. He lived with his daughters, Maria and Varvara.
Charity vs. Corruption: While Rasputin accepted large bribes for political favors, he was known to give much of that money away to the poor who lined up outside his door.
Abuse of Power: Rasputin frequently used his position to force sexual favors from vulnerable women who came to him for help.
Prophetic Warnings: Rasputin warned Nicholas that if he and Alexandra were to live openly among the people, the public would kill them. He predicted that the "elites and intellectuals" would be the ones to ultimately destroy the Romanovs.

The Incident: On a typical day of receiving petitioners, a woman approached Rasputin in his apartment and drew a revolver from under her coat.
The Outcome: As she raised the weapon, she looked into Rasputin’s eyes and became overwhelmed. She broke down, unable to pull the trigger, and handed the gun to him, stating she could not go through with the act after seeing his gaze.

Question: Why was the move to take command of the army so unpopular for the Tsar?
Response: It was universally disliked because it tied the Tsar’s personal reputation directly to the success or failure of the war. Furthermore, it removed him from the capital, leaving the government in the hands of Alexandra and Rasputin, which further fueled public distrust and theories of German espionage.