Grigori Rasputin - Royal Blood - Russian History - Extra History - Part 2

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Rasputin was known to the royal family but how exactly did he manage to get so close to them? There was a lot at work, and the royals were not in the best position. They married for love, but neither was exactly suited for the throne at the time. And their only male heir had hemophilia. How could they refuse this holy man who seemed to work wonders not only for their son but also eased Alexandra's anxiety? Unfortunately, the comfort he brought would be short-lived.
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#ExtraHistory #GregoriRasputin #History

[@extrahistory]

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[@ichidoriyou7472]

Why is this comment 4 days old and the vid isnt even 1 day old?

[@chainsawgood123]

Is the offer US only? I tried entering it on the UK site and it said the deal had expired.

[@Mar1aHass4n]

A

[@Mar1aHass4n]

M

[@Mar1aHass4n]

O

[@qjames0077]

Romanovs: He must be a holy healer! Rasputin: Yeah...sure *Pockets aspirin*

[@Newdivide]

oversimplified

[@foam3132]

This guy knew more about medicine than even the Doctors. How?

[@Darasilverdragon]

She believed he was a holy healer Who would cure her son

[@ethanwall2443]

@@Darasilverdragon ra ra Rasputin

[@ryanfarrelly4647]

@@ethanwall2443 lover of the Russian Queen

[@gabrielgarcia7554]

I love that the Russian newspaper is called “Extra Extra Credit”

[@unsettled_jellybean5197]

There is also extra crisps

[@andrewlai4494]

Extra details

[@gearf8910]

Extra Interesting

[@arima272]

Ekstra Ekstra Kredity

[@gearf8910]

@@arima272 Is that the romanised version of the new letter?

[@TransSappho]

I honestly can’t recommend reading Nicholas II’s journals. He spends the entirety of 1917 talking about the weather instead of the ongoing revolution. He was deeply out of touch

[@alessandrodelogu7931]

Did he write more interesting things too?

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

That and he was a fatalist. Everything happened because God "willed it."

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@alessandrodelogu7931 Mostly he recorded (in brief detail) when certain events happened (when he first met Rasputin, when his kids were born, etc.).

[@TransSappho]

@@alessandrodelogu7931 If he did I can’t remember and I feel like that on its own says a lot. Granted, I read his journals 7 years ago but even still nothing interesting has stuck in my mind

[@alessandrodelogu7931]

@@TransSappho An English diplomat said that Nicholas II, with a proper training, could become a good postman.

[@JunkPhuJP]

I loved how you pointed out how Empress Alexandra’s anxiety could be reflected by the prince and this could exacerbate his condition. Literally becoming a vicious cycle feeding on itself. Alexei get hurts > Alexandra panics > Alexei panics, causing the hemophilia to become worse > Alexandra panics more!!! > Alexei panics more!!!, ad infinity.

[@carolinemcgovern4488]

And that's why my pet theory is a mixture of the calming influence Rasputian had on the Empress and that he stopped the doctors giving Alexi aspirin

[@JunkPhuJP]

@@carolinemcgovern4488 Preach!

[@MidasMakeItRain]

Don't forget giving the kid ASPIRIN. A BLOOD THINNER.

[@bentoth9555]

"Doctors can only give him aspirin." Yeah, pretty sure a blood thinner is just the thing for a hemophiliac.

[@stevenuniverse1422]

They were completely helpless and did not have the information that they do now.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@stevenuniverse1422 Exactly!

[@insaincaldo]

@@stevenuniverse1422 Perhaps, but how long can you not notice the thing you are doing is making things worse. Someone must have been trying to save face and make excuses, which probably escalated the problem. No wonder Ras could just walk in and solve it.

[@crcker3841]

@@insaincaldo people were literally bloodletting and youre surprised that the doctors kept giving aspirin

[@laurakastrup]

@@insaincaldo how long did people attempt to solve other diseases with even less effective treatments? How long did it take royals to figure out that inbreeding with each other probably led to these problems? About 300 years.

[@77cicero77]

My impression of Rasputin’s effect on the Empress and the boy was that he offered the same benefits that a lot of alternative medicine people offer today: placebo and company. You can get a long way with a patient by convincing them they’ll get better and then basically giving them a therapy session to voice fears and receive sympathy/reassurance. Even if it’s not actually that effective, it “feels” better than a doctor rushing in, focusing the conversation on your illness, then giving you some gross medicine or painful treatments.

[@timothycarney9652]

As they brought up, Asprin is also a blood thinner, Rasputin preventing accidentally harmful treatments by coincidence is believeable. Frankly I wonder how things would have gone if the royal family found a similar ally who was more politically and socially savy because that sounds like the area where they messed up.

[@danielhuneke5862]

And (don't forget) saying "this won't hurt a bit"

[@capybaraRed]

Healers aren't uncommon in South America, and some cases just defy explanation.

[@danielhuneke5862]

@@capybaraRed I am saddened by the fact that many will roll their eyes at that statement.

[@munkeefinkelbeen5395]

@@capybaraRed I know what you mean. I come from a Reservation in the US

[@cursedalien]

"Better 10 Rasputins than 1 [anxiety attack]" As someone with a severe anxiety disorder, I can confirm. Anything to prevent an anxiety attack.

[@SuperHGB]

Other than murder?

[@nathanseper8738]

Alexandra's problem wasn't just that she was shy. Like Nicholas, she also believed strongly in the divine right to rule and rejected the notion that monarchs were accountable to their subjects.

[@freakymoejoe2]

Not exactly an uncommon sentiment

[@DOSFS]

Just normal for Monarch at the time, they spend entire of their life in those kinds of environment and influence. It's impossible to remove habits and believes.

[@bleh329]

Yeah, if they're a member of royalty, especially religious ones, that's typically how it went. Not sure why it's important to try paint this woman as standing out for the reasons.

[@rosiehawtrey]

By all accounts Alexandra was as bright as two short planks but thought she was a genius. I feel sorry for the girls, by all accounts their IQs were higher than the RAC hp rating on a medium sized Humber.

[@sanhcman666]

I guess that getting kidnapped and locked in a basement was they needed to learn :V

[@thenerdbeast7375]

_For the queen he was no wheeler dealer_ _Though she'd heard the things he'd done_ _She believed he was a holy healer_ _Who would heal her son_

[@reaperking2121]

Ra ra rasputin lover of the Russian queen Their was a cat that really was gone.

[@epauletshark3793]

Ra ra Rasputin, ya know his name rhymes with poutine, Canada's gift to humaniteeeeee

[@DeWitherWarrior]

Where is this from?

[@Abebabe413]

The song is called Ra ra rasputin

[@amdreallyfast]

I've only heard "the dark one" version of Resputin. Didn't know about the "peasant turned holy man" version. And with the political context of the time, this is getting interesting.

[@krcmaine]

I learned it from Drunk History of all places; Jerry O'Connell was Rasputin. The show is better than I ever thought it would be.

[@Xerxes2005]

Yeah, I'm beginning to wonder if it's the Russian version of the Necklace Affair.

[@ecurewitz]

well, he had to come from soemwhere

[@bertjanspeedfight2]

He was banished from his village and went on a pilgrimage. It is believed that in his pilgrimage he joined a sect that was involved with orgies and such. His charisma etc got him into high society and got the women into the same sect and had sex with them as a divine ritual. It was even a rumour back than that he was sleeping with Alexandra.

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

It IS interesting, isn't it?

[@ConfusionFace]

*Better ten Rasputins than one of the Empress's hysterical fits.* Something about the imagery you guys put here really got me laughing.

[@sarasmith5476]

HAHA FFPT HEHE

[@mamc1986]

Its true though. The Empress didn't know what to do for her son, except cry and freak the hell out.

[@kevin8712]

Imagine 10 Rasputins...

[@nathanseper8738]

@@mamc1986 The smiling Rasputins are funny.

[@stevenuniverse1422]

2 grandchildren of Victoria already bled to death when they were 2 and 5 years of age. A manageable disease now was truly horrific before blood transfusion was even an idea.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Royal blood is a substance of power and phenomenal accomplishments... yet it is a poisoned substance (thanks to a combination of inbreeding and the genetic disasters that resulted from said inbreeding). 🩸 👑 🦠

[@Googledeservestodie]

Well, technically blood transfusions did exist, by the late 1800s you could easily get one done in the UK or France. However: 1. Medicine didn't know hemophilia could be mitigated with transfusions yet 2. Modern sterilization techniques didn't exist, you would be given dirty needles and a dirty environment that would likely lead to infection 3. Even if you don't get infected, there wasn't a reliable way to determine blood type yet, so you'd be playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette depending on the donor.

[@AaronCorr]

@@Googledeservestodie Ha, Russian Roulette...

[@antonincooper346]

It's interesting how in Rasputin we see a kind healer, a scandalous freak and so many things that It's a bit hard to describe. But he definitely contributed to the fall of the tsars.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

The issues were already there WELL before the Mad Monk arrived on the scene. He just added fuel to the fire.

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

Unintentionally, of course!

[@Kamina.D.Fierce]

Naturally. Though the Tsars were doomed with or without him. When he WAS around, they had someone to point the finger at. At least the press did.

[@arjusarauis9901]

Still, Romanovs being executed by the revolutionaries is really quite a tragedy. But then their flaws did helped led to their downfall and their executions. Might be interesting to see what happens if they were allowed to live however.

[@charliefarmer4365]

@@arjusarauis9901 If only King George V Parliament had agreed to save them. I mean, Nicholas and Alexandra weren’t exactly the best people, but the kids at least…

[@kylemackenzie6282]

Im one of if not the worst Haemophiliacs in Australia, i can testify to the absolute awfulness of this disability. Fun fact Aspirin is a BLOOD THINNER meaning that one of the worst things you can do is give a haemophiliac Aspirin, so the idea of not giving Alexi Aspirin genuinely could have helped the young Tsarevich. although the sudden and inexplicably ability to be completely fine is sketchy, cause these episodes of bleeding can last weeks. Great video EC very informative.

[@Sienna6164]

I hope you’re doing well! Love from California ❤❤❤

[@joemalo5335]

It's almost comforting to know that "what people believe to be true is more important than what is actually true" has been a thing even a century ago

[@insaincaldo]

It has since the birth of rumor.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Oh, humanity and its (often rather high) lack of critical thinking skills...

[@stephanieaensland6520]

Human beings, as a species, make decisions based on emotional "truths" more often than rational or empirical ones. We are a deeply emotional species, which is why rational ideologies fare so poorly as political structures.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

In a palace, you’ll probably find a window scratching of Nicholas ‘+’ Alexandra’s initials (by their ring). A testament to their love.

[@sanhcman666]

And seeing the outcomes, proves further that love DOES NOT conquers all.

[@laughsatchungus1461]

The palace was destroyed in ww2 and rebuilt so any inscription made by the couple would be gone :p

[@rafaellambertucci5279]

Very pog from a man like him

[@Mar1aHass4n]

@@laughsatchungus1461 “ *a* “ palace

[@ecurewitz]

and it would be in Russian

[@Lionstar16]

The sad thing is that even if Olga, the eldest Romanov daughter, was allowed to inherit the throne instead of Alexey, there was every chance she would have passed on haempohilia to her own potential children. When tests were done on the Romanov family's bones years later, it was confirmed at least one of the sisters (Maria I believe) had the carrier's gene for haempohilia

[@TenyoS]

Wow, Rasputin is way more wholesome and positive than I was expecting! 7:17 Oh.

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

He was a bundle of contradictions, as are we all!

[@bthsr7113]

I don't know enough going into this to fairly judge them as monarchs, but seeing your child in pain like that would hurt any caring parent.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

I agree. Any parent with a lick of common sense would be concerned for their child's well-being in a situation like that.

[@pokezette7785]

when the doctors give you blood thinning aspirin. But your Hemophilic. over 600 likes, yay. Thanks

[@SergioKoolhaas]

they didn't have much knowledge as they do today.

[@foam3132]

But Rasputin knew

[@annoyingmissingtexture2431]

Hey you got a disease that can make you bleed uncontrollably when you get a cut so we will just give you aspirin which will thin your blood and can kill you just because we don’t know how the medicine worked. So we decided to just give it if someone has a issue.

[@dr.nosborn6330]

Maybe that pill is worsening the child? -Probably Rasputin

[@lawaern3474]

When you've never healed someone hemophilic. 'Uh... maybe... I don't know... Let's try, not doing whatever we're doing.'

[@CliffCardi]

“But when his drinking and lusting and hunger for power became known to more and more people, the demand to do something about this outrageous man grew louder and louder.” -Sun Tzu

[@irrelevant_noob]

Sun Liz Marcia Maizie Bobby Tzu? :-)

[@rikuvakevainen6157]

Rasputin's image gets more and more complex. In Tsar family he is like a nice uncle but for other elites he is a demon. I don't know anymore which side is closer the truth or did he have both aspects at the same time?

[@alienworm1999]

I get the feeling Rasputin was the kind of man who became whatever he needed to be for whoever he was with- someone who kept their true feelings and beliefs under many, many layers of feigned personalities

[@jonnunn4196]

Turn in this time next week ...

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

My guess? He had both aspects. He sought the Divine, but at the same time he was always on the lookout for earthly enjoyments.

[@cdcdrr]

I would simply not let him near my children. It's the nice uncle types whose abuses are the easiest to overlook.

[@Sorcerers_Apprentice]

People tend to be multifaceted. The Tsar was a loving husband and father, but a horrible politician, soldier and autocrat whose incompetence caused death and suffering to his subjects. Rasputin may have been sincerely motivated by a midlife crisis of faith, but also a manipulator who enjoyed the power he got from being on the royal court and took sexual advantage of women.

[@dkupke]

Personal OP: Rasputin was just a silver tongued con man who got unbelievably lucky

[@Googledeservestodie]

He rolled for Charisma, and got a 20 every time

[@mibikchellaimibikchellous2238]

Constituition 20 as well

[@Brandonhayhew]

He was just a lucky man

[@rennor3498]

You have to admit that the story of Rasputin is something you expect to see in a book or movie. Not something that actually took place in real life.

[@mrbyzantine0528]

Real life is often crazier than fiction.

[@peggyliepmann5248]

Any movie about this would require the actors occasionally turning to the camera and saying "This is not a joke, that literally happened. I know, bonkers, right?"

[@sanhcman666]

You would think the upcoming movie "the kings men" would honor historical facts, but fun fact, no.

[@Wolfbane192]

@@sanhcman666 ...in what world would you reasonably expect a film in the Kingsman franchise to honour historical fact?

[@DisorderlyFashion]

I can't remember who said it, but I am a fan of the phrase " the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction needs to make sense."

[@jaohonaxa]

You can’t help but wonder what Rasputin’s story would have been if the people of Russia had been allowed to know about how he helped with Alexei.

[@bigtall25]

An interesting point, however European monarchy was all about power projection, and knowledge of the heir being a haemophiliac could have really messed with his future right to rule. Imagine a King who can never go into battle or is constantly a cut away from bleeding to death.

[@jaohonaxa]

@@bigtall25 I mean I understand why they had to keep it a secret, but if the culture had been different that they could have been allowed to be open about it Rasputin might have gone from "the mad monk" to a miracle worker

[@bigtall25]

@@jaohonaxa Yah it's just unfortunate that Alexandar was a terrible and unlike Tsar to begin with

[@MURPHYCHACHO]

I wonder if they might have also looked more sympathetically at Alexandria if it had been public knowledge. It could have potentially softened the image of her as a haughty, aloof, royal and shown her more as a terrified mother latching onto someone she thinks is helping her child. We'll never know.

[@LiamNI]

3:52 - props for actually using the correct Russian characters, unlike many other shows/movies/etc! Extra, extra credits!

[@LiamNI]

@@NorthonBruce yeah, my Russian Mrs told me it's kinda more about money than education related. I'm still a beginner, even after about 5 years!

[@MaxRobertoErikson]

Rasputin was Alexandra's emotional support pilgrim.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

More like emotional security blanket in the form of a peasant who smelled like a goat, drank many a person under the table, and had untold sex with untold numbers of women YET AT THE SAME TIME stopped Alexei's hemophilic attacks.

[@asdafkgmify]

Also possibly her "side dude".

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@asdafkgmify If Alexandra wanted a lover, she wouldn't stoop that low.

[@midnight_rose2337]

@@asdafkgmify There’s no evidence that those rumors were anything but rumors.

[@joinmarch76]

You know, I'm pleasantly surprised by Rasputin in this series. Don't get me wrong, he was not blameless, nor an angel (I mean, he WAS a rapey nutboy), but at the very least, he was a fairly decent nutboy. Less an evil mastermind and more a somewhat crazy uncle that was made a monster by those who didn't like him. A shame since in almost any other time, Rasputin likely wouldn't have been as vilified and might even had been seen as a hero of sorts.

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

Definitely not as bad as he was made out to be!

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

And CERTAINLY nowhere near as evil as the Don Bluth version of "Anastasia" made him!

[@SCP--fj2jr]

@@Elizabeththegreatest *My, that Rasputin was gross. Don't know if he could ever be called a Rasputin anymore* :P

[@bill1234532]

uhh.. he wasn't as evil as the worst portrayals... few historicals truly represent their worst. But this was not a nice dude, preying on the emotionally feeble, raping followers, manipulating his supporters, and abandoning those he no longer needed. If he wasn't a psychopath, he was at the very least a sociopath, and in a very great sense, he was responsible for the downfall of the House of Romanov when it helped push the nuclear royal family away from the other branches in 1916 and 1917. Although the blame for that must also be shared by the Tsar, Alexandra and their cadre of invalid ministers.

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

He was a drunk in charge of an enormous khui.

[@vinayakohri1293]

i really like how the basic format of the videos is has remained unchanged while the quality of the frames individually has improved dramatically over the last couple of years

[@awald5]

Man, I bet there's a dude chilling in Germany at this point who would be *very* interested in weakness in the royal family. Edit: I meant Lenin, forgot he didn't spend his exile there, they just sent him back, which I'm sure won't come back to bite them later.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

You mean Cousin Willie?

[@muksimulmaad7413]

@@M.E.ANDHistory *Lenin*

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@muksimulmaad7413 Oh. HIIIIIIIIM. *sigh* Communism = giant ball of sad. ☹️

[@edmund8704]

German soldier smashes through a wall "WHO WANTS TO START A REVOLUTION?!"

[@charaka1030]

I thought it was Switzerland

[@jakkakasunset5485]

This certain man who lived in Russia long ago seems to be big and strong, and in his eyes flaming glow

[@user-eh1tv9pj2d]

Looks like most people looked at him with terror and with fear.

[@historylovingvileplume895]

But Moscow chicks thought he was a lovely dear.

[@king_pigeon]

@@rustikreign9798 He was full of ecstacy and fire

[@beemillo4741]

@@king_pigeon But he also was the kind of teacher Woman would desire

[@juliusfetingis3083]

@@beemillo4741 Ra ra Rasputin

[@borofreak]

3:53 Extra Extra Credits. Well played.

[@shawnheatherly]

Yeah, getting the kid to stop taking blood-thinning medicine probably helped.

[@BLINDrOBOTFILMS]

I cringed as soon as he mentioned giving asprin to a hemophiliac.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

How were they supposed to know that it was a blood-thinner at the time?

[@carolinemcgovern4488]

And calming his obviously stressed mother who's panic probably made things worse helped/

[@devingunnels3251]

The opening of this episode just breaks my heart. That poor kid.

[@oldasyouromens]

So literally this entire Rasputin problem would have been fixed if Nicholas had gotten Alexandra and Alexei an emotional support kitten and doctors who could give him any medicine aside from aspirin.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Alexei already had a pet (a little Spaniel named Joy).

[@oldasyouromens]

@@M.E.ANDHistory Queen Victoria's entire family were truly Spaniel-obsessed, and that's always been really cool to me. But a cat might have actually been able to help with bone healing specifically - they use them as post-operative nurses at veterinarians, with a few days reduction in recovery time.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@oldasyouromens I didn't know that! I always thought that cats AND dogs were equally effective with regards to animal therapy.

[@oldasyouromens]

@@M.E.ANDHistory cats purring has been shown to ease inflammation and help heal bones, in animals and humans. Dogs can help with anxiety, blood pressure, and other things, but the purring specifically is the difference. Grad students at a few universities have done stuff on it, it's findable, but anecdotally as someone with a lot of joint and organ swelling, my ESA will essentially camp out wherever it hurts most and purr his lil heart out, and it's distracting enough to take it down by maybe 25%.

[@charlesdeleo4608]

“His name was Rasputin. We thought he was a holy man, but he was a fraud; power mad and dangerous…”

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

Well, Maria Fedorovna was not a big fan of Rasputin, so she would say something like that!

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

"My unhappy daughter-in-law does not understand that she is destroying the dynasty and herself. She truly believes in the saintliness of this rogue and we are powerless to stave of this disaster." -- Maria Fedorovna

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@Elizabeththegreatest She wasn't a big fan of Alexandra either.

[@GabyGibson]

If you've ever read their love letters, Nicholas and Alexandra were deeply in love with one another.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

💕 Yes, quite a love match, they were! 💕

[@GabyGibson]

@@M.E.ANDHistory Uh-huh.

[@christopherphillippe5222]

I guess u could say they were head over heels for eachother

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

Yeah, they really were!

[@irrelevant_noob]

@@GabyGibson didn't they said so themselves, at 1:34?

[@Mr_M_History]

"Extra credits will do fine" as I wave my hand at a student who says Rasputin is that song from Just Dance

[@Klishar122]

It’s worth remembering that all these issues that we’ve codified in the last couple of decades did actually exist for in previous centuries. Even monarchs had them. What didn’t help were the socio-political issues that made it really difficult to be a monarch at the time.

[@EllpaFox47]

One person I follow does a lot of roleplaying as tsar Nicholas II and other historical figures And semi-in character complaining about spraining his finger And here’s a beautiful quote from the conversation “All Rasputin does is mumble things _other complaints about the pain_ and leer at my wife” Top Tier Comedy

[@BaronVonMott]

"...And barricaded himself in his monastery in a months-long police standoff." Damn, Illedore really was the original modern conspiracy theorist 😂😂😂

[@frakspikes2619]

the ten rasputins part, made me think of 10 russians going "hey", in a "jovial way", at once

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

🤣

[@irrelevant_noob]

... or in succession. 🎶 ;-)

[@frakspikes2619]

@@irrelevant_noob if in succession then Moscow starts playing in my head

[@sharp52092]

IMO along with removing the unpopular Rasputin, Nikolas II should have reversed the law that barred women from ruling. At least make it male primogeniture, where sons came first then daughters. I mean they used to permit women to rule, ex: Empress Elizabeth and course Catherine II (the Great). The only reason that law existed was due to Catherine's son, Paul I being angry at his mother. If Nikolas had removed that law, they would not been nearly as concerned about losing their only son/heir and still had 4 daughters in line. This might have saved the monarchy and the Romanovs.

[@bthsr7113]

Emphasis on MIGHT. There were far bigger problems than that. The decline of the state was something the reigning monarch needed to course correct ASAP, not leave to children who'd never live to see a coronation.

[@math3000]

Well, there's also people who wouldn't like to have a woman rule Russia

[@stevenuniverse1422]

Then the daughters could have been carriers which would make the Romanovs face haemophilia regardless.

[@TheCreator1197]

I have a soft spot for historical in-love power couples, and piling on the Empress' anxiety issues - damn, you just made her so relatable!

[@SkittytheKid]

the doctors were giving Alexei aspirin( a blood thinner) Me, a hemophiliac: oh no! ah Tsar Nicholas, great family man but terrible ruler

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Majored in family, minored in politics.

[@abcdef27669]

Rasputin could helped more his village, with all that fame he amounted. So bad his negative traits were so strong to be ignored. Just imagine that poor location becoming a vibrant holy tourism point.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Unfortunately, Rasputin had a REALLY bad habit of boasting to people about anything. This habit only discredited the Romanovs and made their situation worsen.

[@Polonthi]

Give Aspirin to an haemophiliac... great idea 👌 Lucky we know better today.

[@thatguyzorv6650]

Alexei's hemophilia always breaks my heart. A child that small just wont stop bleeding.

[@Captain_Pine_oo]

I'm happy that extra history went back to this art style, it's always been my favorite and I think it's super cool

[@insaincaldo]

Have you been somewhere else and been confused, or thinking a clearly mentioned guest was going to be permanent?

[@davidwilliam9681]

They lost a war to Japan? Kind of a big thing to gloss over, hope we get more in the Lies episode.

[@Nostripe361]

forget lies. The Russo-Japanese war needs its own series. The war that really shattered the invincibility of European armies in Asia

[@AlexaRobin21]

The Japanese Navy defeated a Russian Navy twice its size. Japan then took a chunk of Russia's island.Island. Fun fact, the war the where the quote "don't compare me to Yi Sun-Sin" came from.

[@jonnunn4196]

Indeed - we get the "What the country needs is a short, victorious war" quote ascribed to Nicolas II immediately before (to decrease public unrest). They got the short part, but it was anything but victorious. It also helped set the stage for the overthrow during WW1.

[@jamesruth100]

Yeah, it was the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. The short version is that Russia and Japan both wanted access to the Manchuria region of China. Russia leased it from China to use as a warm water port (since the only other ports Russia had were Siberian ports) and Japan wanted to expand their empire. Japan crushed Russia in an absolutely decisive victory, marking the first time that a modern Asian power had defeated a modern European power. The whole thing was super embarrassing for Russia and when people began to revolt the Tsar had to cede power in order to stave off full scale revolution. They probably glossed over it because even though it's a pretty important detail for Russia, it doesn't really intersect much with Rasputin's story.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Tsushima was a MAJOR defeat for Russia. And it occurred on my birthday... 😠😢

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

"This kid's blood doesnt clot!" "Give them blood thinner." "How stupid are you?"

[@Thescott16]

3:42 "Russia lost a war to Japan" You guys need to do a segment on that, and _PLEASE_ dedicate an entire episode to the many fails that make up the amazing comedy of errors that was the Baltic Fleet...

[@TheBlackhoof]

They sailed their whole western fleet around Europe, around South Africa, through the Pacific, just to get wiped tf out by the Japanese XD Funniest thing

[@Merennulli]

I'm so glad you're giving a clearer story of this. I usually only hear of him being a drunken, debaucherous monster with references to what sorcery people thought he did, with no mention of his religious fervor and the historical context of the stranger things he did. But strangely while vilifying him in the tradition of loosely-historical storytelling that passed for "history class" there's never mention of this rape accusation by one of his former followers.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

That's because our history teachers don't have time to discuss details; they want to move along with their lesson plans as quickly as possible.

[@bthsr7113]

@@M.E.ANDHistory Which can be somewhat blamed on requirements from above their heads.

[@Merennulli]

​@@M.E.ANDHistory Part of it is the time crunch, but frankly, a lot of it is the curriculum. Those drafting the curriculum set the schedule and what must be taught when...including things that are complete BS. The best teachers will work around the curriculum and teach more accurate history, but a lot don't. It also doesn't help that a lot of it is pass-through errors. The subset of teachers who are involved in setting curriculum were themselves taught wrong and pass it along generationally. That's why things like Washington Irving's fanfic about Columbus were taught for generations.

[@GabrielNicho]

Because the accusation isn't credible. That woman was mentally ill...and there are tons of women on record that Rasputin hit on that asked him to stop....and he stopped.

[@Googledeservestodie]

It's a shame the series is focused on Rasputin and not the Romanovs, I think that the reign of Nicholas is a lot more interesting- blunder after blunder from the Russo Japanese war to World War 1 to economic depression and starvation, and all it did was strengthen his denialism that would eventually lead to Russians taking matters into their own hands.

[@jeremy1860]

This has probably been the most sympathetic description of the Russian royal family I've ever heard. Most I've heard from just talk about their "ineptness" during the WW1 period and their subsequent deaths at the hands of revolutionaries 😟

[@ShadowVincent3]

Most talks about them, especially regarding the revolution, is mainly about them as political figures, and how poorly things were managed. As such, it's easy to forget they were actual humans with personalities and flaws, and while they made many many mistakes, they still had their own personal problems and worries.

[@mehiamawesome0609]

"Royal Blood" I see what you did there

[@ayazamikanz5299]

I swear to god the massive open-mouthed smiles caught me so off-guard I couldn't help but cry out in laughter

[@cameronbruning148]

For all of his drinking and other habits, Rasputin is a pretty good dude.

[@bookdragon9987]

I’m loving these episodes so much and also learning a lot

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Although I know quite a bit about Romanov history, it's always fun to review and update my knowledge of this subject.

[@b1laxson]

I wonder when Rasputin meets Bartok the bat.

[@weldonwin]

Shortly before he uses satanic magic to stir up the ENTIRE Russian Revolution in two weeks

[@b1laxson]

Here's hoping Bartok gets a moment animated, maybe holding the vial. Even better if he's doing his dance

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

Poor kid! Hemophilia is no joke, even today!

[@JohnDamascus]

The Orthodox make the sign of the cross right to left. Not left to right.

[@insaincaldo]

For giver, or receiver of blessing? Because it is right to left for the boy.

[@irrelevant_noob]

and also it's depicted in a RTL manner as if the spectator would perform the move as well. :-B

[@kasyfulwarith5983]

Oh Russia, what a history.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Yes, indeed. One of the reasons why I have a mixed relationship with the country.

[@ebonyblack4563]

Anybody else get Autistic vibes from this description of Alexandria? I mean her reactions are completely relatable, but I'm also divergent myself... This level of anxiety, with awkwardness in public, and fits that could have been meltdowns all match with experiences I've had yet had no way to explain to others till far into my adulthood. That potential makes me think the mad monk's manner may have calmed her by simply being easier to read than most other people. His apparent frankness and bold nature could easily be a comfort for somebody otherwise constantly forced to watch for signs of betrayal or lose of confidence. Bluntness can be abrasive for many people, shocking even, but if you struggle to understand others when interacting having somebody wear their motives openly (or seem to) can be incredibly drawing. It makes the thought he too may have been manipulating her only sadder; yet, at the same time makes me give him more of the benefit of the doubt now that I know more about their dynamic.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

In some ways, yes. I'm getting some autistic vibes here as well (and these words are coming from an Aspie with a strong fixation on all things Romanov).

[@bthsr7113]

@@M.E.ANDHistory At minimum she had asocial tendencies and high stress. Not at all a healthy combination for even a minor court noble, let alone a queen.

[@Annihilation_Studios]

I'm autistic too and I think she was just anti social

[@hylacinerea970]

i have mild hemophilia and i’ve literally never ever had aspirin lmao

[@sceligator]

Have you been treated by a Siberian mystic?

[@cyrus6550]

One thing I love about this channel is how they humanize those who are often dehumanized simply due to their class, status, or historical myths. It shines light on how even the great men of history are only human, just like the rest of us.

[@suursuits7637]

Been watching these videos for years now, absolutely fantastic work! You should do some videos on Estonian history.

[@ZKP314]

Alexei: *Appears* TNO Fans: Where Sergei?

[@kotyrollins]

I've heard this story many times but never once have I heard of Alexandra's anxiety and social issues or the problems that surrounded them. Everyone always frames them as evil when it really just seems like they were a product of their circumstances.

[@ankitbhasi7794]

I think Alexei got better from the placebo affect

[@jonnunn4196]

More so from stopping him from being given Aspirin.

[@ianmckenzie6715]

One of the best ways to naturally stop a hemophilic bleeding episode is calming the hemophiliac down so yeah it probably was

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Me too! Plus, kicking out the doctors and stopping the administration of a blood-thinning drug helps drastically.

[@neonbunnies9596]

Sometimes, I wonder how many non-famous Rasputins there have been

[@martinmarvinii3139]

It’s a little odd just how human Nikola’s and his family can really be seen as, a little reminder that history is still human

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

And that humans (ourselves included) are all flawed in one way or another.

[@ianmckenzie6715]

And then those wonderful humans we all shot and stabbed to death by communists along with extended family, the family doctor, and their pets.

[@theguestkid5651]

so much information, this is my favorite documentary of Extra Credits (Hist.)

[@VanOri]

When you look at social media these days... nothing much changed^^

[@jokuvaan5175]

Holes in factual knowledge will get filled by people's imagination

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Too true!

[@rockCity777]

Can just look at recent history... Superstitiousness and lack of judgement are pretty universal characteristics among the people who pursue the incredibly high stakes of power-politics. To name a few examples, a South-Korean prime-minister was impeached in 2018, for holding political strategy-meetings with a daughter of a cult-leader, and during the Trump-administration a leaked video featured audio of the 45th President being briefed on the various way that the name "Trump" was good and powerful in hebrew numerology. (During an official white-house dinner)

[@WhisperingNostrils]

This story is fascinating.

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

Loved the "Extra Extra Credit" Russian newspaper 👌👍😊

[@danieljhalab6775]

4:49 I know this is extremely nitpicky, but he would make the sign of the cross from right to left not left to right

[@TheFuriousBrother]

Please explain more, I only know it left to right.

[@insaincaldo]

For giver, or receiver of blessing?

[@reinardish]

Orthodox cross

[@danieljhalab6775]

@@TheFuriousBrother orthodox Christian thing

[@danieljhalab6775]

@@insaincaldo for both it's just a thing the orthodox do

[@Crackdalf]

Iliodor's meltdown sounds like it could be its own video

[@Name-ow7cc]

This is the earliest ive ever watched a video

[@thebigdrew12]

Same.

[@CC-wv1ny]

That is a lot of red flags

[@ArkadiBolschek]

If you think _that_ is a lot of red flags, wait till we get to 1917... 😉

[@asnailitsapple6460]

I like the idea that Resputin was basically Alexandria’s “emotional support mystic”

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

I feel like Nicholas and Alexandra deserve somewhat less criticism for Rasputin. If your child is constantly on the verge of or constantly at risk of death, and only one thing, one person seems to aid him… what other choice to you have?

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Royalty has ALWAYS been (and, very likely, always WILL BE) a messy business. Inbreeding, succession issues, nutty politics, etc... But that's what makes it fun to study!

[@bungalo50]

I wish more people would talk about Iliodor because if you think Rasputin was the mad monk, boy does this guy take it to another level

[@ImperatorZor]

Victoria in the afterlife: I bloody well told ya!

[@gwenward2141]

I just want to remind you that one of those "red flags" around the Czar was at his coronation, where there was a mass stampede that killed a LOT of peasants. Because there weren't enough refreshments.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

They THOUGHT there weren't enough goodies. Historians don't know if that was actually the case.

[@Newdivide]

0:29 or in layman's terms, mama mia! That's a lot of blood! -oversimplified

[@YPYT90]

Russia's greatest love machine -History

[@dintimatlabe4790]

Thanks!

[@extrahistory]

Thank you for supporting the show Dinti!

[@leightoncressman6188]

The best thing to come from Rasputin is that awesome song Ra Ra Rasputin🎶

[@haka5630]

Such an interesting character

[@anniebarker4545]

The artwork, research & narration in this episode (and throughout this channel) is genuinely mind blowing! Thank you all so much for creating accessible and fun educational videos like this!

[@rachelfamily8279]

Me: likes video - Exactly 200 likes - Me: happiness noise

[@rachelfamily8279]

I just realized that it was the 200th like on a video with 103 views.

[@RamdomView]

0:40 So the Imperial Family's doctors prescibed an anti-coagulant to someone whose problem is lack of ability to coagulate?!

[@rosiehawtrey]

Welcome to the NHS

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

They had no idea that aspirin was a blood-thinner!

[@jonnunn4196]

Yup - Aspirin wasn't shown to be an anti-coagulant until the 1950s.

[@bthsr7113]

Science marches on, and giving the boy painkillers would make sense if you were unaware of side effects. Lots of stupid things were done in the past with good intentions. Then we learned, and now we try to do better. 10 gets you 50 that our descendants will eventually look back on what we did with mystified, "but why?"'s.

[@AfaqueAhmed_]

So I finally found out how extra credits is written in Russian .

[@cosmicsanders4319]

i used to feel pretty bad for rasputin, getting murdered for essentially just chilling with the royal family, after 7:16 i feel significantly less bad

[@Hawkatana]

A certain German collaborator has made me unable to think about Alexei without thinking of clocks. *Verify your clock*

[@lizbizwiz1238]

1:58 If I remember correctly, there were 8 attempts on Victoria’s life throughout her reign as queen. During one of those attempts. Victoria’s husband, Albert, saved her from an assassin’s bullets.

[@pendragonxt3674]

But Why though? I get the Jacobites wanted the Stuart reign to continue but still.

[@masberrycreek782]

@Extra Credits please please make a series about the English Civil War. Seeing an animated King Charles I dashingly standing over a hill watching his men fight would be so so cool

[@ernestoxl7814]

I wonder how Rasputin felt about his own life

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Probably this: "My life is crap... God is Great... get me a drink... I love Jesus... GOD. BLESS. THE TSAR!!!!"