The Mystery of the Life and Death of Rasputin.
Whether you see Rasputin as a healer, "holy devil", or a "mad monk", it is indisputable that when delving into the depths of history's mysteries, he emerges as one of the greatest . In Russia in the early 1900's, the Czar Nicholas and the Czarina Alexandra had an ill son named Alexi. Stricken with hemophilia, none of the doctor's were able to help to stop the boy's bleeding - except Rasputin (who wasn't even a doctor). The association among Rasputin and this leading family was shrouded in suspicion and uncertainty, as rumors and myths about the connection are still surfacing to this date.
The relationship between Rasputin and the royals began in 1906, and he protected Alexi's life for 10 years. Alexi was the sole heir to the Russian throne, so it was imperative that his illness remain a secret to protect his survival. No one - even historians who investigate his life as a profession - knows how Rasputin was able to help the boy. Some believed he used hypnosis, while skeptics of that idea call it "absurd" to think that hypnosis could heal a child with hemophilia. .
Although not one person could identify how Rasputin was helping Alexi, it is undeniable that he was. On one occasion, Alexi had fallen and was bleeding, but due to his hemophilia, his blood was unable to stop. Czarina Alexandria sent Rasputin a telegram, and informed him of the distressing situation. He had written her back, with the promise to pray for him, and needless to say, the bleeding stopped.
Despite being of great service to the Romanov's, he was still never accepted as a member of the royal household. On the contrary, he was rumored to have a relationship with the Czarina that extended beyond friendship, though many historians find those reports dubious. Rasputin had little influence on government policy, but Czar Nicholas was guided by his advice. In 1913, Russia threatened to draw into war, but in part with Rasputin's advice, Czar Nicholas pulled back.