Explanation: Nicholas II was the last Tsar of the Russian Empire. Over the course of WW1, his wife became obsessed with Rasputin, a philandering 'holy man' who claimed supernatural powers (whether he and the Tsarina were lovers is questionable, though it was an accusation thrown about at the time), the war itself was going terribly, and the frustration over the autocratic and ultraconservative government of the Tsar led to socialist revolution being increasingly spoken about - and then happening, with astounding suddenness.

I'd say 'poor Nicky', but he was an authoritarian, a warmonger, a racist, and an antisemite, so fuck 'im.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 29 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Wasn't she close to Rasputin because he claimed he could cure her son's hemophilia?

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 52 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Yep. The main thing he did was take her son off of aspirin whenever he was around.

Aspirin worsens bleeding.

So he had an effect simply by being an anti-medicine quack, and claiming to work miracles.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 20 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Had not heard about the aspirin thing! Nice work Heysus.

[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 4 points 5 months ago

Met a guy who has haemophilia who might die if he took it :s

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Was Nicky a warmonger, though? I mean he fought what, two wars in his entire career? I mean he went to war with Japan on pretty dubious grounds, but I don't think he ever actually wanted to go to war.

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Invasion of Manchuria, invasion and occupation of Iran, Russo-Japanese War, and WW1. Three of those were eminently avoidable with minimal, if any, loss for Russia.

If Nicholas II didn't 'want' to go to war, but was still willing to in order to achieve his aims, I would argue that that is a greater want for the war than for its avoidance.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't count the invasion of Manchuria here because, like, the other side needs to fight before it's called a war. That was more of an essentially unopposed land grab. Invasion of Iran was definitely warmonger-y as hell no argument there, but as for Russo-Japanese war his mindset was more "they're yellow Asian monkeys, they'll back down if we push 'em hard enough." He also thought he'd be able to quickly win any potential war with Japan so he wasn't trying to deescalate by any stretch of the imagination, and government propaganda was bellicose as hell at the time, but still he was legitimately surprised when Japan declared war. As far as this particular war goes, I'd call him more hopelessly delusional than a warmonger.

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Starting a war in hopes that the opposing side will yield and not a threat is still starting a war. Also your description starkly resembles something happening in a different century 🤔

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Starting a war in hopes that the opposing side will yield and not a threat is still starting a war.

He didn't do that, though. The cause of the war was Russia stepping on Japan's toes in Korea. It was pretty provocative stuff, but he didn't start that war. At no point did Russia take military action against Japan before the war. Now I'm not saying he didn't cause the war because he absolutely did, but causing a war due to incompetence and stupidity isn't how I would define a warmonger.

Also your description starkly resembles something happening in a different century 🤔

Which?

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 1 points 5 months ago

which?

Oh, you know, the same one, by sheer coincidence

[–] GhostedIC@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 months ago

He was authoritarian, warmongering, racist, AND antisemitic? Gee, I hope the guy who replaced him wasn't all of those things!

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 35 points 5 months ago (1 children)

RA-RA Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen. There was a cat that really was gone!

[–] MisterD@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 months ago

For the clueless:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DrtgtHOrP94

[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 17 points 5 months ago (3 children)

He looks like he could be played by Tim Curry

[–] OrganicMustard@lemmy.world 9 points 5 months ago

Now I want a Russian revolution movie starring Tim Curry and the Muppets

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 5 points 5 months ago

The only good thing about The Kingsman was having the Tsar, Kaiser and King all played by Tom Hollander, due to them being cousins in a very inbred family tree.

[–] Batman@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

space!

[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 12 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

That’s the face of a man thinking to himself “I’m going get drunk and crash the fuck out of train.”

[–] Jakule17@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago (2 children)

He also had a 28cm cock

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah but that's centimeters. It's not like he had an 11 incher.

What? ...No way?

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

His wife was being bottomed out by a court wizard with a massive dong.