Title: 11 Of The Cruelest Tyrants From History
Headings: 11 Of The Cruelest Tyrants From History
11 Of The Cruelest Tyrants From History
Content: 11 Of The Cruelest Tyrants From History
Europe
France
11 Of The Cruelest Tyrants From History
Sophia White
16 December 2016
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As a historical figure you can either be famous or infamous. The characters below can arguably fall into either camp – they were leaders after all – but they will certainly be remembered more for the bad than for the good. We are really spoiled for choice when it comes to cruel tyrants in the 20th century, so here are 11 of the cruelest tyrants from over 100 years ago. Oliver Cromwell, by Samuel Cooper | © National Portrait Gallery/WikiCommons
Caligula (Roman)
We will start the list with one of history’s oldest, cruelest and most unpredictable tyrants. Caligula ruled from 37AD to 41AD, and in these four short years he restored treason trials, causing the death of many. Records show that the first six months of his reign were quite moderate, but after this, he worked manically to increase the unconstrained power of the emperor, attained new lands – both for himself and for the Empire – and led a campaign of sadism, extravagance and sexual perversity for the remaining three and a half years of his reign. He was murdered at the Palatine Games, which seems to be a point to karma. Enver Pasha (Turkey)
Enver Pasha began his career as a Turkish military officer before rising to power, leading the Ottoman Empire in both Balkan Wars and the First World War. His army suffered a harsh loss at the Battle of Sarikamish, and this prompted his systematic destruction of Armenia, having chosen the Armenians as the scapegoats for his defeat. The term ‘genocide’ was created to describe this event, and the 2.5 million deaths are a testament to his evil.