« Many times I have had the opportunity to meet with Rasputin and talk with him about different topics. In such cases, I have always marveled at the patience and diligence with which he delved into the essence of the themes of each, he listened with rapt attention, trying not to lose the thread of conversation. Very rarely, he inserted a remark, and when he did it, it usually turned out to the site. Many times I have heard him ranting raving interrupted the exact exclamation which immediately lowered chatterbox from heaven to earth.
Note: This is a Russian ‘article’ that even after being translated by google translator might still have some mistakes. Anyway, it’s a good reading.
During the last 80 years of the monarchy, male dynasts were listed in the court calendar by primogeniture in the order of their succession to the throne, while female dynasts were listed according to other criteria unrelated to the succession.
In order for a new baby born into the Imperial House to qualify as a dynast, the Fundamental Laws set forth a straightforward procedure to follow. The parent immediately had to inform the emperor in writing of the child’s name and birth date. The emperor then would order that the name of the child be entered in the Genealogical Book of the Imperial Family (maintained by the emperor’s chancellery) and that the parents be informed that the child was included in the imperial family. It was of course the emperor’s decision as to whether a child satisfied the requirements for dynastic membership. Once he entered the child’s name in the Genealogical Book, the issue was closed. Inclusion of a child’s name in the Genealogical Book was proof of membership in the imperial house. The Genealogical Book determined whose names were included as dynasts on the official court calendar and was the basis for entitlement to pensions and apanages.
