Russian history is rich in mysterious personalities. Their life gave rise to rumors, popular rumor supplemented the images with unique features. After their death, their names were overgrown with new myths and legends, excluding any hope of the possibility of solving.
False Dmitry I (? -1606)
The preconditions for the appearance of False Dmitry I in Russia are associated with the mysterious death under unexplained circumstances of the son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry. The impostor, posing as a miracle of the heir who escaped death, chose the right time: taking advantage of the turmoil in the country, False Dmitry took over the Moscow throne for almost a year.
The most popular version of the origin of False Dmitry I, which is still supported by many historians, was put forward by the government of Boris Godunov. In correspondence with the Polish king Sigismund Godunov identified the impostor with the fugitive monk of the Chudov monastery, Grigory Otrepiev.
However, the historian Nikolai Kostomarov assumed that False Dmitry could be from Western Russia, being the son of a nobleman or boyar. Some researchers put forward a version that the bravery of the impostor can be explained by a sincere belief in his royal origin. He turned out to be a blind tool in the hands of the boyars, who, having overthrown Godunov, ruined him as well. Jacob
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Bruce (1669-1735)
One of the associates of Peter I, a native of a noble Scottish family, Jacob Bruce was a very outstanding personality. A statesman, diplomat, military man, scientist and engineer - he left a bright mark behind him. But he also had a reputation as a warlock, "a sorcerer from the Sukharev Tower" and the first Russian Mason.
The creation of the magical image of Yakov Bruce was largely facilitated by Russian romantic literature. Irina Gracheva, Ph. D. in Philology, writes that “judging by some data, Yakov Vilimovich possessed a skeptical rather than a mystical mindset”.
Contemporaries noted that Bruce did not believe in anything supernatural. When Tsar Peter showed the Scotsman the relics of the holy saints, he "related this to the climate, to the property of the land in which they were previously buried, to the embalming of bodies and to abstinent life."
In the history of Russia, Jacob Bruce should go down first of all as a talented military engineer who was engaged in the improvement of artillery pieces and a scientist who contributed to the development of Russian science.
Monk Abel (1757-1841)
No official documents about the life of the monk Abel (in the world of Vasily Vasiliev) have survived. The only exception is the 1796 Case of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Empire, in which the monk was accused of distributing the book of his prophecies.
Historians do not question the identity of Abel, but the authenticity of the prophecies attributed to him is not recognized by most of them. In particular, the Orthodox interpreter Nikolai Kaverin notes that many of Abel's predictions were constantly replenished, and this indicates the formation of the "heresy of reigning", the main sin of which is the equalization of Nicholas II and Christ.
The prophecies of Abel in the form in which they exist now predict the fate of the Russian emperors from Paul I to Nicholas II with amazing accuracy. In addition, the prophecies predict the end of the monarchy in Russia, civil and two world wars, the emergence of aircraft and underwater vehicles, as well as the use of asphyxiant gases.
Princess Tarakanova (1745? -1775)
Princess Tarakanova is one of the most famous adventurers in Europe. According to Vice-Chancellor Alexander Golitsyn, "her quirky soul is capable of great lies and deception." She, like gloves, changed lovers, names, place of residence, each time coming up with a new story of her origin.
The princess claimed the Russian throne under the name of Elizabeth of Vladimir, posing as the daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and Alexei Razumovsky.
According to historians, the decision to impersonate a grand-ducal personage is largely due to the sensational story in Europe with the imposture of Emelyan Pugachev.
Until recently, Princess Tarakanova refused to recognize herself as an "ordinary woman." According to one version, the impostor died of tuberculosis in the Peter and Paul Fortress, according to another, she died there during the flood of 1777.
Count Palen (1745-1826)
Count Peter Palen went down in Russian history, first of all, not as an excellent officer, highly promoted in military service, but as a cunning diplomat and intriguer who played a major role in the overthrow of Paul I.
For some, he is a hero who saved the Fatherland from the tyrant king, for others - Judas, who betrayed the sovereign, who trusted him infinitely.
But for most historians, Palen is nothing more than a puppet in the hands of the Russian nobility, who wanted to get rid of the unpopular courtier as soon as possible.
Some researchers are convinced that in the conspiracy against the king, organized by Palen, one should look for Masonic roots. Recently, however, the motives of Palen's actions are increasingly seen as an "English trace": perhaps this is how British diplomacy, through the count, took revenge on Paul for his alliance with Napoleon and for colonial interests in India.
Alexander I (1777-1825)
The emperor of Alexander I can be called one of the most mysterious in Russian history: he scandalously ascended the Russian throne and mysteriously left it. Publicly declaring his unwillingness to reign, Alexander I was the autocrat of Russia for a quarter of a century.
In 1825, when the health of the wife of Alexander I deteriorated, the imperial couple left for the south. After visiting the Crimea, the king himself fell ill, which led to his sudden death. This is what the official version says.
But there are also legends, one of which says that the emperor did not die, but faked death in order to retire from worldly affairs. According to the most common version, he went to Siberia, where, under the name of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich, he spent the rest of his days.
Of course, this version has no documentary evidence. A story appeared in the Russian émigré press that after the opening of the empty coffin of Alexander I in the presence of Alexander II, the body of a long-bearded old man was put there. However, the mystery of the victorious Tsar could be clarified by a genetic examination, which is not ruled out by the specialists of the Russian Center for Forensic Science.
Grigory Rasputin (1869-1916)
The personality of Grigory Rasputin is shrouded in so many myths and legends that it is not easy to discern a real historical character in him. In revolutionary and Soviet propaganda, the image of the "old man" was so demonized that it acquired caricature features.
Many of the accusations against Rasputin - of sectarianism, debauchery, behind-the-scenes influence on politics - were never brought to an end due to the fact that they did not receive proper confirmation. For example, Rasputin's alleged closeness to the royal family was refuted by many courtiers.
In the 1990s, the time came for the other extreme. The religious veneration of Grigory Rasputin gave rise to the idea of canonizing the "elder" as a holy martyr. Such an initiative was categorically rejected by Alexy II, drawing attention to the "dubious morality" of Rasputin, who cast a shadow on the August family.