What was the secret behind Grigori Rasputin?

The self proclaimed holy man who gained influence in imperial Russia after befriending the family of Tsar Nicholas II, and who also healed their son, who was a hemophiliac. I read a little about this guy in a history magazine and on Wiki.
It’s surprising how little people seem to know about the facts behind him. When I read the article it was a brief outline of what this guy did, so I figured by looking him up I would learn some facts.
Not only are many key events about him uncertain, but it seems we do not know what Rasputin himself was thinking. Did he really think, himself, that he was a holy man and a healer? Or did he know he was a charlatan? Did he really want influence in the imperial court, or did he somehow just end up there?

For example, he seemed to know that for the Tsar’s son to heal, the latter had to relax, not be stressed and let his body naturally heal itself. Back then people didn’t know much about hemophilia so the doctors were trying anything on the kid. By ceremoniously barging in the room and knocking over all the medicine, Rasputin solved a problem; aspirin apparently does not mix well with hemophilia. But did Rasputin even know this?

He did not learn to read until later in his life, loved drinking and spending time with prostitutes, I don’t imagine he was the most educated man ever, especially not about something like hemophilia, which doctors back then didn’t even know much about.

There is so much mystery and rumors about him that have yet to be debunked. Even the events of his death are vague. Apparently most of his predictions were true, even after he himself died. That, or I am reading all the wrong things.

So what is the secret behind this guy? Was he a mastermind? I don’t think it’s very easy to manipulate and use Russian imperialists. Or was he nuts, and very lucky for a while? I personally believe that science should be able to explain most of everything about him. Where can such information be found?