Nicholas II was a fool, a complete incompetent. I suspect that the monarchy would have collapsed even if there had been no Rasputin.
A quick story:
The British ambassador met with Nicholas after some serious rioting in the streets.
Ambassador: Your majesty, you must regain the trust of your people.
Nicholas: No. They must regain my trust.
Hopeless.
Yes, it was a top-heavy creaky institution, especially full of self-promoters and traitors like Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich
“Nicholas II was a fool, a complete incompetent. I suspect that the monarchy would have collapsed even if there had been no Rasputin.”
Absolutely. The revolution was in full swing. Nicholas’ family was just a weak spoiled family just like any other ‘liberal’ who seeks salvation from charlatans, sham artists, “mediums,” and gurus. Completely ignored was the “noblesse oblige” that kept heads attached to kings and queens throughout Europe at the same time.
Too much royal inbreeding.