Grigori Rasputin
Source: NPR
The beard. The mysticism. The political power and the repeated—and failed—attempts of murder. Indeed, Rasputin qualifies as one of the 20th centuries biggest badasses. Believed to be able to heal their hemophiliac son, Alexei, the Romanovs commissioned Rasputin to be their supreme mystic. His influence grew to the point where Rasputin personally advised Tsar Nicholas’ ill-fated rule.
Source: Historia Compartida
Many within the court cast a questioning eye toward the unorthodox mystic, and eventually tried to assassinate him. Unfortunately for them, though, Rasputin proved to be a hard man to kill. Despite stabbings, poisoning, being shot, and clubbed, Rasputin didn’t die.
His eventual demise came from drowning. And even then, evidence suggested that Rasputin may have tried to claw his way out of the icy riverbed before he met his maker.
