levo

Russia 1914–41

Nicholas II, the Tsarina and Rasputin

  • 3 things to know
  • AS Unit 2

Overview

The Tsar's decision to take command at the front, the government left to the Tsarina, Rasputin's influence and the damage to the dynasty's standing.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

What decision of September 1915 tied Nicholas II personally to military defeat?

Key term

Where did Nicholas II spend most of his time after taking command?

Who and when

Who was left to supervise the government in Petrograd?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What decision of September 1915 tied Nicholas II personally to military defeat?

    Model answer

    Nicholas II dismissed Grand Duke Nikolai and took personal command of the armed forces, so every later defeat was blamed on the Tsar himself.

  2. 2

    Where did Nicholas II spend most of his time after taking command?

    Model answer

    Nicholas II based himself at army headquarters at Mogilev, far from the capital and from the daily business of government.

  3. 3

    Who was left to supervise the government in Petrograd?

    Model answer

    The Tsarina Alexandra was left in charge of ministers in the capital, with Rasputin advising her.

  4. 4

    Why was Alexandra so unpopular in wartime?

    Model answer

    Alexandra was a German princess by birth, so rumour accused her of treason, and her dependence on Rasputin was common knowledge.

  5. 5

    Explain what is meant by ministerial leapfrog.

    Model answer

    Ministerial leapfrog describes the rapid turnover of ministers between 1915 and 1917, when Russia went through four prime ministers, five interior ministers and three war ministers in under eighteen months.

  6. 6

    Who was Grigori Rasputin?

    Model answer

    Grigori Rasputin was a Siberian holy man who won influence at court through his apparent power to ease the bleeding of the haemophiliac heir, Alexei.

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