Khioniva Guseva was a 33-year-old peasant woman who lived in Tsaritsyn, Russia. She was a follower of Iliodor, a former priest and anti-semite, who had tried to drive a wedge between Rasputin and the imperial family in 1911. When Iliodor’s efforts failed, he was banished from Saint Petersburg.
Three years later, on this day, 29 th June 1914, Rasputin stepped out of his house in Pokrovskoye to send a telegram to the Tsar. The Tsarina had given him the heads up that Russia was preparing to go to war and so Rasputin wanted to contact the Tsar to urge him not to do it. However, Guseva was waiting for him and tried to assassinate Rasputin by stabbing him in the stomach.
Rasputin was seriously wounded but survived, only to be shot and killed two and a half years later in December 1916.
Guseva claimed to have acted alone, but both the police and Rasputin believed that Iliodor had instigated the assassination attempt. In the end, Guseva was found to be not responsible for her actions by reason of insanity.
Three years later, on this day, 29 th June 1914, Rasputin stepped out of his house in Pokrovskoye to send a telegram to the Tsar. The Tsarina had given him the heads up that Russia was preparing to go to war and so Rasputin wanted to contact the Tsar to urge him not to do it. However, Guseva was waiting for him and tried to assassinate Rasputin by stabbing him in the stomach.
Rasputin was seriously wounded but survived, only to be shot and killed two and a half years later in December 1916.
Guseva claimed to have acted alone, but both the police and Rasputin believed that Iliodor had instigated the assassination attempt. In the end, Guseva was found to be not responsible for her actions by reason of insanity.