Learn How to Pronounce Grigori Rasputin | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Grigori Rasputin
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Meaning and Context
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, born a peasant in 1869, rose to become one of the most infamous and enigmatic figures in late Imperial Russian history. A self-proclaimed starets (holy man) and mystic, he gained profound influence within the court of Tsar Nicholas II after 1905, primarily through his alleged ability to alleviate the hemophiliac symptoms of the heir, Tsarevich Alexei. His position as a trusted confidant to Tsarina Alexandra fueled widespread scandal among the Russian aristocracy, contributing to the declining prestige of the Romanov dynasty. Rasputin's notorious lifestyle, rumored involvement in political appointments, and perceived corruption of the monarchy made him a symbol of courtly decay. His dramatic assassination in December 1916 by a group of nobles, which required poisoning, shooting, and finally drowning, became a legendary prelude to the Russian Revolution of 1917, cementing his legacy as the "Mad Monk" whose shadow loomed over the empire's final days.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The standard and correct transliteration from Cyrillic is Grigori Rasputin. Common variations often arise from alternate phonetic spellings or historical transliteration conventions, such as Grigory Rasputin. A frequent error is the misspelling of his first name as Gregori or Gregory, which anglicizes the Russian "Grigori." His surname is occasionally and incorrectly written as Rasputhin or Rasputtin, adding an extra 't' or 'h'. It is also worth noting that his full patronymic, Yefimovich, is sometimes omitted or misspelled as Efimovich. In some older historical texts, the French-influenced transliteration Grégoire Raspoutine may appear.
Example Sentences
The influence of Grigori Rasputin over the Romanov household grew primarily from his apparent success in treating the tsarevich's hemophilia.
Many historians argue that Rasputin's scandalous reputation was actively cultivated by his enemies within the aristocracy to undermine the tsarina.
Conspirators lured Rasputin to the Moika Palace under false pretenses to carry out his assassination.
Despite his peasant origins, Grigori Rasputin navigated the highest echelons of St.
Petersburg society with surprising cunning.
The myth of Rasputin's supernatural resilience stems from the protracted and gruesome nature of his murder.
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