History class often shines a light on infamous rulers, the ones whose names are synonymous with terror. You’ve likely heard of figures like Bloody Mary, whose reign left a dark stain on the Tudor dynasty. But what about the tyrants who didn’t make the main pages of your textbooks?
There’s a whole cast of brutal leaders from ancient times whose stories are equally chilling, yet they remain in the shadows. If you’re curious about the darker side of power and the figures who wielded it with iron fists, you’re in the right place. Let’s delve into the grim details of ten ruthless tyrants you might not know, but definitely should.
10 Tamerlane
Tamerlane, also known as Timur, is remembered as one of history’s most formidable and cruel figures. Interestingly, some contemporaries praised his contributions to arts like theater and literature. However, historians primarily recognize him as a brilliant military strategist who orchestrated massive, devastating campaigns, despite being physically unable to wield a sword properly.
His nickname, “Tamerlane,” originated from “Timur the Lame.” It’s said that arrow wounds from stealing sheep in his youth left him with a lifelong limp. Despite this, he rose to become a ferocious Mongol-Turkic warlord during the decline of the Mongol Empire in the 14th century.
Tamerlane was not only an incredibly smart military leader but also shockingly cruel. He took immense, sadistic joy in plundering and decimating the prosperous cities of Central Asia. His reign of terror attracted a legion of followers, effectively forming a massive pirate army. With this growing force, Tamerlane set his sights on even larger, well-defended cities, including prominent Islamic centers that were, at the time, more advanced culturally and militarily than the Mongols.
9 Porfirio Diaz
Porfirio Diaz was a dictator who controlled Mexico from 1876 to 1910. His long rule only ended when he was overthrown due to widespread corruption and the deep resentment that eventually sparked the Mexican Revolution.
During his time in power, Diaz pledged to improve Mexico’s struggling economy and infrastructure. However, his actions consistently exploited the lower classes for his own benefit and that of the wealthy elite. This ultimately caused tremendous harm to the country and its people.
Today, Porfirio Diaz is regarded as one of the most despised figures in Mexican history, a stark reminder of how power can corrupt.
8 Wu Zetian
In 7th century AD China, Wu Zetian made history as the first and only woman to rule the country in her own right. Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty even gave her the nickname “Fair Flatterer,” hinting at her charm and cunning.
Once Wu Zetian became empress, dark rumors began to circulate. Historical chronicles suggest she was ruthless, allegedly killing her older siblings and even poisoning her own mother. Other texts describe her clever maneuvers to usurp power from the previous emperor. It’s said that anyone who disagreed with her or questioned her orders faced swift execution.
According to the book Hidden Power, Wu Zetian systematically eliminated all twelve branches of the Tang Clan. She reportedly demanded that the severed heads of two rebellious Tang princes be brought to her. Furthermore, Wu Zetian allegedly forced a granddaughter and grandson to commit suicide after they criticized her actions. It’s also rumored she poisoned her husband. In her view, these brutal acts were necessary to prove she could surpass any male ruler.
7 Herod the Great
Herod the Great was a notoriously brutal tyrant who ruled ancient Judea. He was known for his vindictive nature, ruthlessness, and volatile temper. He frequently had people killed whom he merely suspected of plotting against him.
One of the most infamous acts attributed to Herod is the order to kill newborn babies in Bethlehem following the birth of Christ, often referred to as the Massacre of the Innocents. His paranoia and cruelty also led to the deaths of his wife and three of his oldest sons. His tyrannical rule was often challenged by the Sanhedrin, a tribunal of rabbis acting as holy judges. However, charges against him were always dismissed.
After declaring himself king, Herod embarked on massive construction projects. He used taxes collected from the oppressed populace to build a lavish palace, a testament to his vanity and extravagance.
6 Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon was a prominent leader of a Christian knight army during the First Crusade. He was among the key figures who set out to reconquer Jerusalem after several previous attempts to reclaim the holy lands had failed. Under his command, Godfrey’s forces managed to breach the city’s defenses by opening Saint Stephen’s Gate.
After a grueling seven-week siege, Godfrey achieved a brutal victory, capturing the entire city. This conquest resulted in the slaughter of tens of thousands of Jerusalem’s inhabitants. Following this bloody triumph, he became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, reigning from 1099 to 1100.
5 King John
King John was the youngest legitimate son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was born on Christmas Eve in 1166 at Beaumont Palace in Oxford. Later, John moved to the Abbey of Fontevrault, intending to live a life within the church. However, even in his youth, he was known for his unstable, spoiled, and cruel temperament. His father called him “Lackland” because John reportedly disliked receiving land as an inheritance.
In 1177, John was given the title “Lord of Ireland,” and in 1185, Henry II sent him to rule the island. However, John’s erratic and cruel nature deeply offended the Irish nobles. He frequently mocked and insulted them, leading to his return to England only a few months later.
During King John’s reign, England experienced the most severe tax exploitation since the Norman Conquest. He imposed taxes on almost anything imaginable to fund his unsuccessful military campaigns in France. By 1214, the barons had been drained of vast sums of money. This led them to force King John to seal the Magna Carta, a landmark 63-clause charter designed to limit the king’s power and curb his abuses, particularly regarding taxation without representation.
4 Phalaris
Phalaris held the title “Tyrant of Acragas in Sicily” from approximately 570 to 554 BC. During the 6th century BC, Phalaris seized control and declared himself the absolute ruler of the city. He was known for using his power to crucify his rivals, a common method of execution at the time.
However, Phalaris had a particular fondness for a more gruesome form of torture: roasting his enemies alive. This became his signature method of cruelty. What made it even more sadistic was the device he used – a hollow bronze bull. Victims were locked inside, and a fire was lit beneath it. Their agonized screams, amplified by the bull’s design, were said to sound like the bellowing of an actual bull. Phalaris reportedly adopted this horrifying invention from a coppersmith, who ironically may have been one of its first victims.
3 Commodus
Commodus, the Roman Emperor from AD 180 to 192, is widely recognized as the unhinged young emperor depicted in the movie Gladiator. His reign was marked by cruelty and a detachment from his imperial duties.
Killing was reportedly Commodus’s pastime. He allegedly fabricated plots against himself simply to create opportunities to torture his perceived enemies. The Emperor also famously enjoyed performing as a gladiator, fighting and killing wild animals in the arena. He even boasted of winning 12,000 such contests. His egomania led him to believe he was the reincarnation of Hercules.
Beyond being a callous murderer, Commodus relished defying traditional Roman customs and responsibilities. From AD 180 to 192, he largely ignored his duties as emperor, preferring to indulge himself with his reported 300 concubines and play gladiator in the Colosseum. He even ordered the executions of many of his own family members. When Rome faced a devastating fire, he did little to help and insisted the rebuilt city be named after him.
2 Cambyses II
Cambyses II, the King of Persia, reportedly descended into madness after his conquest of Egypt. The Egyptians were celebrating the birth of a new Apis bull, a sacred animal considered an incarnation of a deity. This deeply concerned Cambyses, who ordered the bull to be brought before him.
Upon seeing the sacred animal, the King allegedly stabbed it in a fit of rage. He then proceeded to mock the Egyptians for worshipping what he considered a mere animal. Cambyses didn’t stop there; he ordered the execution of everyone who was celebrating the Apis bull. His brutality extended to his own family as well. Historical accounts claim he killed both his sister-wife and his brother.
According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Cambyses’s increasing insanity was attributed to a severe case of epilepsy, which may have influenced his erratic and violent behavior.
1 Akhenaten
Akhenaten was a pharaoh of Egypt’s New Kingdom, ruling from approximately 1353 to 1336 BC. His name, which he chose himself, translates to “the loyal servant” of the god Aten. This name change signified his conversion to a religious cult centered on Aten. This new devotion led Akhenaten to attempt to dismantle traditional Egyptian religions in favor of Atenism.
He initially reigned for five years under his birth name, Amenhotep IV. During this period, he largely followed his father’s policies and upheld Egypt’s traditional religious practices. However, the fifth year of his reign marked a dramatic shift. Not only did he change his name to Akhenaten, associating himself with the god Aten, but he also underwent a profound religious transformation. He declared Aten the supreme, and perhaps only, god.
Akhenaten then moved to abolish Egypt’s long-standing religious rites and ordered the names of other gods to be erased from temples and monuments. Because of these radical religious reforms, he became known as the “Heretic King” for the remaining twelve years of his rule, a controversial figure who dramatically altered Egypt’s religious landscape.
These tyrants, though perhaps not as widely known, certainly left their bloody marks on history. Their stories serve as grim reminders of how unchecked power can lead to unimaginable cruelty and suffering.
What do you think about these lesser-known tyrants? Were there any on this list that surprised you? Leave your comment below!
