In The Irrationals, the first popular and comprehensive book on the subject, Julian Havil tells the story of irrational numbers and the mathematicians who have tackled their challenges, from antiquity to the twenty-first century.
Nicholas realized he was powerless. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the throne on March 2, (according to the Russian Julian calendar; March 15 according to the western Gregorian calendar), in 1917. He signed an abdication document stepping down from the throne and nominating his brother Michael to succeed him.
On the night of December 29/December 30, 1916 (16 December according to the Julian calendar that was still used in Russia at the time), Yusupov invited Rasputin to his palace on the pretext of his wife Irina needing his attentions as a healer.