Grigori Rasputin

As a leader, Rasputin wielded power not through formal authority but through his extraordinary influence over Tsarina Alexandra and, by extension, the Russian monarchy. He was seen as a spiritual guide and advisor, especially during Tsar Nicholas II's absence during World War I, but his unconventional methods, alleged debauchery, and rumored control over key political decisions made him a polarizing figure. While some saw him as a healer and protector of the Romanovs, others viewed him as a manipulative opportunist whose unchecked influence destabilized the already crumbling regime.