History’s 10 Worst Conquerors

It has been said that a great leader’s influence can last for centuries. I know this is true of evil dictator’s. In fact, if you think about it, a leader (everyone for that matter) will be judged at the end of time by the impact they have made - positive or negative.

These leaders have been chosen because of their negative impact over the course of time.  While you may argue about who was worst, I think you will agree with the overall list. 

1. Joseph Stalin - USSR/Russia - Stalin was a paranoid, ruthless tyrant that killed more people than Hitler and was an authoritarian dictator well into his seventies.

2. Adolf Hitler - Germany - His negative impact continues to be felt. He embodies evil more clearly than any dictator in our modern history.

3. Ghengis Khan - Mongolia - One of the most feared taskmasters in history.

4. Pol Pot - Cambodia - The mastermind of the “killing fields” where he killed over 30% of his own people.

5. Chairman Mao - China - He ruled over the largest population of people and used fear and murder in order to overpower his own people.

6. General Pinochet - Chile - Knicknamed the General of Death, Auguste Pinochet led a regime of horrendous human rights sins.

7. Idi Amin - Uganda - Known as the ‘Butcher of Africa’, Amin is a prime example of the worst leadership for Africa. Unfortunately, many current African leaders have emulated Idi Amin and his evil.

8. Saddam Hussein - Iraq - Hussein is the best example of Stalin in the Middle East. When your own people are deathly afraid of you that is never good.

9. Hideki Tojo - Japan - The Emporer was a partner with Hitler and led his people into a suicidal spree of terror that brought shame and defeat to this Island nation.

10. ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier - Haiti - He was literally possessed. This leader used voodoo and other evil tactics to squash his enemies, whom he thought was everyone.

* Sources: Various online lists, personal reading and Time magazine article.

Posted on January 22, 2009 in Historical Leaders