Chris Danziger

Our speaker on 24^th July was Professor Chris Danziger who lectures on 19^th century European history for the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. His very interesting talk was entitled ‘Oxford’s Role in the Assassination of Rasputin’.

Rasputin, also known as ‘The Mad Monk’, turned up at the court of the Russian royal family around the time of WW1 claiming to be able to cure the congenital haemophilia which was threatening the future of the succession of the Romanov dynasty.

Rasputin was not a monk at all and began to exert a Svengali-type influence over the Royal family. Russia was doing badly in the war and, as a pacifist, Rasputin’s influence did nothing to improve the situation and was suspected by many of treachery. Plans were laid and Rasputin was murdered in December 1916 by Prince Felix Yusoupov one of the richest people in Russia.

The Oxford connection arises because Yusupov read Forestry and English (!) for three years at University College and we heard much of his antics and lack of effort in his studies.