(Important Names and Location Spellings at the bottom of the description)

Join your host, Connor, the Paranormal Pixie, on a deep dive into the bizarre life of Maria Rasputin, one of history's coolest side characters!

Maria Rasputin was the only child of the infamous Grigori Rasputin to escape Russia following her father's death. Within the span of a few years, Maria went from supporting herself and her children working as a nanny, to headlining at Ringling Brothers Circus as a LION TAMER!

We'll take a look at Rasputin, how Maria remembers him, as we learn how his fate led to her career with the circus, and how she ended up buried in Los Angeles in Angelus-Rosedale cemetery!

Notes, rough transcript, references, and images available on

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Grigori Rasputin, a holy man and unofficial advisor to Tsar Nicholas II, is said to have been the shadowy figure twisting the minds of the Russian Royal family in the twilight of their reign. His brutal assassination at the hands of Prince Felix Yusupov in 1916 ended up being the first in a line of dominoes that led to the Bolshevik Revolution.

By Grigori's side as he climbed the Russian social hierarchy was his daughter, Maria. And she has a very different view of her father than the Mad Monk history has remembered him as. Maria never stopped believing that he was a good man who wanted to help the Russian people and a dear friend to the Romanovs. She publishes memoirs of her time with Rasputin as direct responses to the tales told by Grigori's assassins.

After her father's death, Maria chose to pack up and escape Russia with her newborn. As they bounced around Europe, to make ends meet, Maria began donning her father's moniker and performing in circuses! "Daughter of the Mad Monk, Whose Power in Russia Astounded the World!"

Maria's skill? Beast taming! Working with every creature from horses to lions, she traveled Europe and America. Even surviving an animal attack!

Fun Yussupov bio I mentioned!

Substack - Dirtbags Through the Ages - I Know What Yusupov did Last Summer

https://rapscallison.substack.com/p/i-know-what-yusupov-did-last-summer

Maria Rasputin Important Names and Spellings

Angelus-Rosedale - Location of Maria’s grave

Romanov - Dynasty of Czars of Russia

Pokrovskoe - Maria’s hometown

Strannik - Holy Pilgrims

Starets - Revered Holy people

Praskovya - Maria’s mom

Dmitry - Maria’s older brother

Varvara - Maria’s younger sister

Sazonov Family - Housed the Rasputin family while in St Petersburg

Boris Solovyov - 1st husband

Khioniya Guseva - Rasputin assassination attempt #1

Llidor - Rasputin’s religious rival and professional troll

Prince Felix Yuzupov - Mastermind behind plot and killer of Rasputin

Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich - Assassination co-conspirator

Vladimir Purishkevich - Assassination co-conspirator

Yekaterinburg - Last Location of the Romanovs

Ipatiev House - Site of Romonov excutions