Rasputin had a profound influence on the Romanov family and, in particular, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra, the parents of the heir to the Russian throne, Tsarevich Alexei. Rasputin gained their trust by seemingly curing Alexei's haemophilia through faith healing and hypnosis. As a trusted counselor to the royal family, Rasputin wielded significant power during World War I. His rise generated controversy among Russia's high society and political circles, ultimately contributing to the collapse of the monarchy and Rasputin's own assassination in 1916.