Rasputin, the Monk Who Brought Down a Dynasty

In the years before the Russian Revolution, Rasputin became the confidant of the Czar. His growing influence separated the Tsar from his people. Rasputin was an unusual man who appears to have had genuine healing talents. When they heard of Rasputin the Czar's wife called him in to heal the apparently dying Alexis. After Rasputin laid his hands on the boy, he began to improve and finally recovered. 

His influence with the royal family remained strong after that. In fact his growing influence, and the envy this caused, led to his death. Poisoned, shot, clubbed, drowned - the man who would not die. The poor decisions that were made by the Tsar during the time of Rasputin's influence and the hatred that his presence inspired in the people probably contributed significantly to the fall of the Tsar in the last days of the dynasty. People lost confidence in their ruler at a time of grave crisis. Russia was fighting in World War I and losing badly. There were severe shortages of food and supplies at home. As public confidence lapsed, the revolutionary ideas fermenting in Russia for 50 years began to come to the surface. Finally, shortly after Rasputin's death, the Russian Revolution swept away Nicholas and his family forever.

(For more information: http://www.historywiz.org/historymakers/rasputin.htm)