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Felix Felixovich Yusupov Jr.
(March 23, 1886 - September 27, 1967) Russia

Felix Yusupov

Rasputin's murder

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Prince Felix Yusupov was born in Saint Petersburg. As a young man, married Irina Romanov, the niece of Nicholas II. Like many members of the Royal Court, Yusupov objected to the influence that Grigory Rasputin had over the Tsar and his wife, Alexandra Fedorovna.

In 1916 rumours began to circulate that Alexandra and Rasputin were leaders of a pro-German court group and were seeking a separate peace with the Central Powers.

Rasputin was also suspected of financial corruption and right-wing politicians believed that he was undermining the popularity of the regime. In December, 1916, Yusupov and Vladimir Purishkevich, the leader of the monarchists in the Duma, with Grand Duke Dmitri, formed a conspiracy to murder Rasputin.

Felix YusupovOn 29th December, 1916, Grigory Rasputin was invited to Yusupov's home in St. Petersburg, where he was given poisoned wine and cakes. When this did not kill him he was shot by Yusupov and Purishkevich and then dropped through a hole in the frozen canal outside the house.

After the Russian Revolution Yusupov emigrated to the United States. His memoirs, Lost Splendor, was published in 1953.

He was a known bisexual and transvestite, and some have asserted that he and Grand Duke Dmitri were lovers as well as fellows in the murder of Rasputin. Felix claimed to have seduced King Edward VII of England while in drag.

The prediction made by Grigory Rasputin that disaster would come to anyone who tried to harm him proved to be incorrect and Felix Yusupov died aged 81 in Paris, France.

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