Leopold II of Belgium is infamous for the atrocities he committed in the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908. He exploited the region for resources like rubber, enforcing brutal labor systems. Workers faced mutilation, torture, and executions as punishment for not meeting quotas, leaving millions dead under his rule.
This period saw villages burned, families torn apart, and cultural destruction on a massive scale. Leopold's actions, motivated purely by greed, led to the deaths of an estimated 10 million people. International outrage finally ended his control, marking him as a symbol of colonial cruelty.
Ivan the Terrible, the first Tsar of Russia, is remembered for his reign of terror during the 16th century. He formed the Oprichnina, a secret police force that executed thousands, often using brutal methods like torture and public executions to suppress dissent and consolidate his power.
His paranoia and violent temper led to horrific acts, including the massacre of Novgorod in 1570, where his forces slaughtered tens of thousands of citizens, accusing them of treason. Ivan even killed his own son in a fit of rage, showcasing his cruelty and instability.
Adolf Hitler is the name we all know and fear. He led a regime responsible for the genocide of millions, targeting specific groups in a calculated campaign of hatred. His policies promoted oppression, violence, and a twisted ideology that justified cruelty and mass murder.
Under Hitler’s rule, countless civilians faced torture, forced labor, and death. His quest for power drove devastating wars and inflicted terror across Europe, leaving lasting scars. His actions demonstrated a chilling willingness to destroy lives to achieve his horrific goals.
Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union through terror, orchestrating purges that led to millions of deaths. His Great Purge targeted perceived enemies, using executions and labor camps to crush dissent and instill fear among the population.
Stalin's policies, such as forced collectivization, caused widespread famine and suffering, particularly in Ukraine. His brutal disregard for human life, driven by a need for control, resulted in unimaginable hardship, marking him as one of history’s most ruthless dictators.
Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq with extreme violence and fear, using torture, executions, and brutal crackdowns on any opposition. His campaigns, such as the gas attacks on Kurdish villages, showed his willingness to kill thousands for control.
Hussein’s oppressive rule included secret police, forced disappearances, and mass graves, instilling terror across Iraq. His regime’s disregard for human rights and ruthless acts against civilians demonstrated his determination to keep power, no matter the human cost.
Kim Jong-il ruled North Korea through fear and oppression, creating a regime where dissent was punished severely. His policies led to widespread famine and suffering, prioritizing military power over the basic needs of his people.
Under Kim's rule, citizens faced brutal punishment, forced labor camps, and intense propaganda. His control over every aspect of North Korean life showed a disregard for human rights, using fear to maintain his oppressive, authoritarian grip on power.
Genghis Khan led brutal conquests across Asia and Europe, destroying cities and massacring entire populations who resisted. His campaigns resulted in countless deaths, driven by a ruthless desire to expand his empire at any cost.
Khan’s tactics often involved torture, fear, and systematic slaughter, leaving devastated lands in his wake. His disregard for life, coupled with relentless violence, made him one of history’s most feared conquerors, instilling terror wherever his armies went.
Osama bin Laden is another name we all know. He orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, causing thousands of innocent deaths and widespread devastation. His targeting of civilians showed a chilling disregard for human life, using terror to further his radical agenda against the West.
Bin Laden’s leadership of al-Qaeda inspired violence and fear globally, recruiting followers to carry out brutal attacks worldwide. However, U.S. forces took the life of bin Laden, which gave justice to the country.
Vlad the Impaler, known for his brutal rule in 15th-century Wallachia, tortured and killed thousands to maintain power. He famously impaled his enemies on stakes, leaving fields filled with suffering victims as a fearsome warning.
Vlad’s cruelty extended to civilians and prisoners, whom he tortured without mercy. His brutal methods inspired the character of Dracula, which gave him a lasting legacy in pop culture (even if you don’t know his name).
Mao Zedong, leader of Communist China, enforced harsh policies like the Great Leap Forward, which led to mass famine and the deaths of millions. His disregard for human life showed in policies that prioritized ideology over people’s survival.
During the Cultural Revolution, Mao persecuted intellectuals, students, and anyone he saw as a threat, leading to torture, imprisonment, and deaths. His reign of terror and manipulation of his people reveal the depths of his ruthless ambition.
Christopher Columbus, often celebrated for “discovering” the Americas, is a villain of history. He enslaved and exploited Indigenous people, forcing them into hard labor and punishing those who didn’t meet his harsh demands.
Columbus’s expeditions marked the start of violence, disease, and forced displacement for native populations. His actions paved the way for a brutal colonial system. The only bright light is that Columbus Day in America is finally being replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
H.H. Holmes is another name you probably don’t know, but he was one of America’s first serial killers, who constructed a “murder castle” in Chicago filled with trapdoors, soundproof rooms, and hidden passageways designed to trap and kill his victims.
Holmes targeted people with no regard for their lives, choosing vulnerable individuals like young women seeking jobs or visitors drawn to the 1893 World’s Fair. His cold-hearted manipulation and delight in causing suffering reveal his true, twisted evil.
Andrew Jackson's enforcement of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 makes him one of the cruelest people in history. This law forced Native American tribes off their ancestral lands, uprooting entire communities to make room for white settlers.
The Trail of Tears, caused by Jackson’s policies, shows his lack of compassion. Thousands of Native Americans were forced to move and suffered long, dangerous journeys. Over 4,000 died from starvation, exposure, and disease, leaving a tragic legacy.
Elizabeth Bathory, often called the "Blood Countess," is infamous for her horrifying acts in the 16th and 17th centuries. She allegedly lured young girls to her castle, where she tortured them with heated irons, needles, and beatings, causing unimaginable fear and suffering.
Legend claims Bathory bathed in the blood of her victims, believing it would keep her young. Though some details remain debated, reports suggest she murdered hundreds of girls, making her one of history's cruelest and most notorious figures.
Horrific human rights abuses marked Idi Amin's rule in Uganda. He ordered mass killings of opposition members, targeted minority groups, and relied on torture and executions, leading to the deaths of approximately 300,000 innocent people.
Amin’s cruelty extended to throwing out Asians from Uganda in 1972, stripping them of their property and livelihoods. This action destroyed families and wreaked havoc on the economy, showcasing his recklessness and utter disregard for human suffering.
Pol Pot’s leadership of the Khmer Rouge brought devastating cruelty to Cambodia. His regime targeted intellectuals, religious leaders, and minorities in a brutal genocide, systematically killing nearly two million people—almost one-fourth of the country’s population.
Under Pol Pot, millions were sent to forced labor camps to endure starvation, exhausting work, and disease. Children were separated from families, individuals were tortured, and entire communities were destroyed, leaving a horrifying legacy of suffering and death.
Kim Jong-Un’s rule is known for its harsh treatment of North Korea’s people. He controls them through spying, strict rules, and labor camps. Thousands suffer from hunger, torture, and terrible living conditions, showing how cruel his power is.
Kim also shows no mercy with political purges. He has officials and even family members killed to stay in control. His fear tactics silence anyone who might disagree, leaving millions poor and without basic rights or freedom.
Heinrich Himmler played a key role in one of history's darkest times. He organized and oversaw the Holocaust, setting up a system of mass murder where millions of men, women, and children were executed in gas chambers or starved in camps.
Himmler also implemented racial policies that promoted suffering and death for those he deemed inferior. Under his direction, concentration camps became centers of brutal forced labor, medical experiments, and inhumane treatment, leaving a legacy of unimaginable cruelty and terror.
Joseph Mengele was nicknamed the “Angel of Death" during the Holocaust. He conducted horrific medical experiments on prisoners, targeting children. He performed procedures without anesthesia, purposefully causing as much pain and suffering as possible.
His cruel fascination with twins led to gruesome experiments, leaving many dead or permanently scarred. Mengele decided the fate of countless individuals by selecting who would live or face execution upon arrival at camps, sending thousands to their deaths.
Joseph Kony is the warlord leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, the militia that terrorized Uganda. He kidnapped thousands of children, forcing them to become soldiers or slaves. These children were abused, brainwashed, and made to kill, tearing apart families and communities.
Kony’s reign of terror included widespread human rights abuses. Villages were burned, civilians were tortured, and awful violence was used to spread fear. His actions caused so much suffering, displacing millions and leaving scars still felt across the affected regions.
Jeffrey Epstein orchestrated a disturbing SA trafficking operation involving minors. He lured vulnerable young girls with promises of opportunity, only to exploit them through manipulation and abuse. His actions shattered countless lives and left lasting psychological trauma.
Epstein used his money and connections to avoid punishment and silence victims. He had powerful friends who helped protect him while he hurt others. Here he is with our President-elect Donald Trump. His abuse of power and privilege shows how little he cared about people’s rights or suffering.
Donald Trump is, unfortunately, history in the making. His evil began at a national level during his first presidency. He attempted to overthrow the Constitution on January 6, 2021, and incited the insurrectionist attacks on the Capitol. He is fueled by hated and fear.
Trump has now been elected for a second term. His Project 2025, although not yet officially endorsed by Trump himself, aims to take away the rights that marginalized people have already achieved. He is in the process of setting the country back decades.
Nero, an infamous Roman Emperor, is remembered for his extreme cruelty and tyranny. Blamed for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 A.D., he allegedly played music while the city burned. To deflect blame, he scapegoated Christians, subjecting them to horrific punishments like being burned alive or torn apart by animals in public spectacles.
His violent paranoia led him to murder family members, including his mother and wife, to secure power. He engaged in the systemic persecution of Christians, blaming them for many of Rome’s misfortunes and creating enduring fear among early believers.
Attila the Hun, known as the “Scourge of God,” led a brutal campaign across Europe in the 5th century. His invasions devastated regions, including the Roman Empire, as his armies massacred entire populations and destroyed cities, leaving widespread fear and destruction.
Attila's greed and cruelty were evident in his constant demands for gold from Rome, backed by threats of violence. He slaughtered countless innocents, enslaved survivors, and showed no mercy in pursuit of power, making him a symbol of terror in history.
Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, is infamous for wiping out the entire Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. He manipulated alliances with indigenous tribes and used violence to overthrow Emperor Montezuma, leading to the destruction of Tenochtitlán and the slaughter of thousands.
Cortés enforced forced labor and spread deadly diseases like smallpox, which eliminated the Aztec population. His greed for gold and power drove him to exploit and oppress native people, ultimately leading to the collapse of one of the most advanced civilizations in history.
Maximilien Robespierre, a leader during the French Revolution, is notorious for orchestrating the Reign of Terror from 1793 to 1794, a time of state-sanctioned violence and mass executions. He sent thousands, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, to the guillotine with little or no trial.
Robespierre's obsession with creating a “Republic of Virtue” led to mass executions of those he deemed enemies of the revolution. His policies of fear and extreme control caused immense suffering, leaving a brutal legacy marked by paranoia and bloodshed.
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria from 2000 until his government was overthrown in 2024, is infamous for his brutal actions during the Syrian Civil War. His regime used chemical weapons against civilians, including the 2013 Ghouta attack, killing hundreds, including women and children, sparking international outrage.
Assad’s forces committed widespread atrocities, including mass bombings and torture in secret prisons. Millions of Syrians were displaced, fleeing violence and destruction. His relentless pursuit of power at any cost has left a devastating humanitarian crisis that persists today.
Under his command, ISIS carried out beheadings, massacres, and slavery. The group's capture of Mosul in 2014 marked the start of widespread horror.
Baghdadi's leadership fueled the destruction of cultural heritage, such as the demolition of ancient sites in Palmyra. His establishment of a so-called caliphate brought extreme violence and oppression, leaving a legacy of fear and suffering across affected regions.
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, is often criticized for his role in devastating conflicts and human rights abuses. Under his leadership, Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, violating international laws. His actions in Ukraine have caused thousands of civilian deaths and massive displacement.
Putin's regime has suppressed dissent, with opponents and journalists often jailed or mysteriously killed. His policies have also targeted minority groups, fostering discrimination and violence. These actions have left a legacy of fear and global instability.
Elon Musk is a cartoon supervillain come to life. As the richest person in the world, the billionaire refuses to help people. He said he would fund a $6 billion detailed plan (a fraction of his fortune) to solve world hunger if someone could come up with it but refused when the UN presented it.
He has also been criticized for using his influence over the U.S. government as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the Trump administration to shape policies favoring his ventures, even promoting Tesla (his company) on the White House lawn. He continues to prioritize profits over public welfare and ethical governance. Not to mention his recent "salute."
