BIRTH(+)FACT(᙮)DEATH(-)

39th year  -  N° 79                 Tuesday, 19 March 2024         Antwerpen		
Out in the Real World
BirthFactDeath (-)
Saturday 30th of December 1916

108 years ago He Asked for Some Madeira Wine



Mystic and self-proclaimed holy man Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin aka The Mad Monk is assassinated by a group of conservative noblemen led by Felix Yusupov at the age of 47 in Moika Palace, St. Petersburg, Northwestern Federal District, Russia.


Yusupov offered Rasputin tea and cakes which had been laced with cyanide. To Yusupov's surprise Rasputin did not appear to be affected by the poison. Rasputin then asked for some Madeira wine (which had also been poisoned) and drank three glasses but still showed no sign of distress. At around 2:30 am Yusupov excused himself to go upstairs where his fellow conspirators were waiting. Taking a revolver from Dmitry Pavlovich, Yusupov returned to the basement and, referring to a crucifix that was in the room, told Rasputin that he'd "better look at the crucifix and say a prayer" then shot him once in the chest. Believing him to be dead they then drove to Rasputin's apartment with Sukhotin wearing Rasputin's coat and hat in an attempt to make it look as though Rasputin had returned home that night. Upon returning to the Moika Palace, Yusupov went back to the basement to ensure that Rasputin was dead. Suddenly Rasputin leapt up and attacked Yusupov, who freed himself and fled upstairs. Rasputin followed and made it into the palace's courtyard before being shot by Vladimir Purishkevich and collapsing into a snowbank.