Russian mystic and faith healer Grigori Rasputin was BOTD in 1869. Born in the Siberian village of Pokrovskoye to a peasant family, little is known of his early life. In 1886, he married Praskovya Dubrovina, with whom he had seven children, only three of whom survived to adulthood. He claimed to have a religious experience in 1897, and became a pilgrim and faith healer. In 1903, he visited St Petersburg, dazzling aristocratic society with his charisma and reputed healing powers. In 1905, he was presented to Tzar Nicholas II, and formed a close relationship with Empress Alexandra, impressing her with his ability to calm the sickly Prince Alexei. A highly divisive figure, he was hailed both as a holy man and a charlatan. During World War One, Nicholas took over the command of the Imperial Army, leaving Alexandra (and, by default, Rasputin) to rule in his place. His unpopularity led to frequent rumours that he was Alexandra’s lover, which intensified as Russia suffered heavy military losses. Sexually omnivorous, he had affairs with men and women, often accepting sexual favours from admirers, and was the subject of several rape allegations. After surviving an assassination attempt, he was murdered in 1916 by a group of noblemen, led by bisexual aristocrats Prince Felix Yusupov and Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich. He was 47. Rumours circulated after his death that his killers cut off his (massive) penis and preserved it, a story sadly too good to be true. His life and murder was portrayed in silent films within months of his death. He has since been played by Conrad Veidt, Lionel Barrymore, Christopher Lee, Tom Baker, Robert Powell and Alan Rickman.