Khiḍr and Rasputin: On the Potentials and Limits of Charismatic Advisors at Court

The stories of the sufi shaykh Khiḍr (d. 676/1277), who was sultan Baybars' spiritual advisor, and Grigory Rasputin (1869–1916), the notorious spiritual advisor to the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas II (1868–1918), and especially to the latter's spouse, Alexandra (1872–1918), have much in common, and pairing them in a discussion about the possible influence of saintly characters at rulers' courts could be instructive. This short essay will thus examine the influence a charismatic advisor was able to wield at court but also consider how crossing certain boundaries might lead to a clash with other, more traditional or bureaucratic, authorities. Focusing on Khiḍr and the Mamluk context, Rasputin will serve as a point of comparison, which will help shed new light on Khiḍr and the phenomenon he represented at large. By doing so, the article will propose insights into the nature of relations between the Mamluk ruling elite and Sufi shaykhs, or other saintly figures, while situating them within a broader context.