The Gandhian ideology or doctrine of non-violence inspired many other leaders all over the world; most notable being Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama. Henry VII, r1485–1509 Henry VII won his crown at the battle of Bosworth (22 August 1485), but ruled with the efficiency of an accountant rather than the panache of a warlord. Mary’s suspected involvement in the spectacular murder of Darnley on 10 February 1567 was a political mistake of the first order; her marriage three months later to the main suspect, the Earl of Bothwell, was an act of breathtaking stupidity. Ashoka the Great ruled from 269 BC to 232 BC. As though this was not enough, he ordered the burning of books and any scholarly materials he deemed would generate contradictory ideas from his statesmen. Though often overshadowed by its Egyptian neighbors to the north, the Kingdom of Kush stood as a regional power in Africa for over a thousand years. Adolf Hitler is the most famous ruler of the world who was an Austrian politician. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Although short-lived and short reigned, he is known as the greatest military geniuses of all times. He played an important role in expanding the Roman empire, making it one of the most powerful empires in his times. He was leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea. He broadened the French empire to great extent, and is well-known for his war strategies and tactics. Vlad the Impaler was the rules of Wallahia not the Ottoman Empire. History remembers him today as a madman with absolute power, a ruler who indulged in frequent debauchery and hated Christians. Nero was one of the most infamous of Rome’s emperors. He also committed suicide in 1945 by shooting himself. He is not included in the list as today he is remembered as a ruthless dictator. And the last thing that can not allow to call him Idolator-his father and his legacy were Idumaeans who were converted to Judaism. He became known for his philanthropism, and adherence to the principles of non-violence, love, truth and tolerance. Vlad the Impaler fought against the Ottomans. Things started going south when his first wife died in 1560. He was one of the founding fathers and the first President of the United States of America. Top 10 Notorious Rulers of the History 1. Very seldom have female rulers been given their dues; however, there have been so many women in history who deserve all the accolades for being the fearless and ambitious rulers they were. Famously declared by the Senate optimus princeps or “the best ruler,” he ruled ancient Rome from 98 AD until he took his last breath in 117 AD. The devil is in the details, as is the best parts of life. But he failed to become a great emperor in every possible way. Anyone can vote on this definitive list of the men and women who shaped our civilization – for better or worse – making it a … Thus, the task of ruling over such empires and kingdoms required particularly talented leaders, in order for their countries to thrive. Lincoln was the first President of USA ever to be assassinated. Here is a list of the top 10 notorious rulers in history: Commodus was a famous or rather infamous Roman emperor who was absolutely despised by his people for his outrageous behavior throughout his rule. He was the leader of the Egyptian Revolution which overthrew the monarchy in 1952. During this tenure, he was famous for getting rid of scholars who contradicted his ideas. He created a bloodbath that swept through Asia and Europe, leaving behind millions of dead. The growing deception and mistrust in his own family only added to his mental instability. At one time, he became annoyed at the apparent insolence of his eldest son. Also Herod was not Jewish, he ruled over that Jewish population for Rome. Caligula. History has seen the rise and fall of some infamous and notorious rulers who brought about inexplicable horror in their thirst for power and recognition. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! He annexed nearly all of Central Asia and China. He fell into depression and his paranoia increased. In addition to this, he was the man behin… His laughable displays of manliness only garnered disgust in the Roman Senate and among the general public. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. The following is an alphabetic list of world’s greatest leaders, inclusive of all those who enjoyed great power, and also those who strived hard for the betterment of their countrymen. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln freed nearly 3 million slaves in different states of America. Herod is generally portrayed as an insane megalomaniac in the Bible – a heartless paranoid who wanted to kill Jesus and other innocent members of the public. He introduced the Julian calendar, and was also the first ruler to have coinage issued with his name. Lenin’s philosophy is well-known as Leninism or Marxism-Leninism, which was a guiding doctrine for the formation of USSR. Several radical and social reforms took place in the Soviet State under the leadership of Lenin. He is among the 3 greatest Presidents of USA. Ho Chi Minh (born Nguyễn Sinh Cung) founded and led the Vietnamese Communist Party. Genghis Khan formed Mongol empire which was to become one of the greatest empires in the history of the world. This is a list of the most important and influential leaders in the history of the world. They will be remembered for their achievements and their dedication to the people. These cookies do not store any personal information. Such men and women have been responsible for ushering their people into a … He was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army which overthrew the British rule in the American Revolutionary War. The 10 best English queens in history How did Mary, Queen of Scots fall from grace? To be precise, he was the first genius to ever pop up in the African history, and his intelligence made him the chief-advisor to king Zoster in Ancient Kemet’s third dynasty. He succeeded Gaius Julius Caesar, defeated Antony and Cleopatra, and became the ruler of Rome. Attila (Attila the Hun), was the ruler of the Huns from 434 to 453. Among all this disorder, he unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide and finally died in 4 BC from a prolonged illness. His was the golden reign of the Roman empire, as there was an end of ongoing civil wars and peace (Pax Romana) at last. He proclaimed himself to be the reincarnation of the mighty Hercules, and would openly participate in gladiator battles. Napoleon Bonaparte, or Napoleon I of France, is a popular figure in history. His system of castles established a greater sense of central authority than had existed previously, especially the impressive stone fortifications which now represent some of t… At one time, there was great sickness among the locals living in the city of Tirgoviste (then capital of Vlad’s empire, Wallachia). One night he dreamt that he would be killed by a sea creature. During his reign, this cold corner of Russia did grow into a powerful empire, but Ivan’s only legacy remains the moniker he earned from his dastardly acts. When he became Emperor of Rome, he had some pretty big shoes to fill. Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, the President of Egypt, was one of the most important and influential political leaders of the 20th century. He struggled for the independence of the Vietnam (leading the Việt Minh independence movement), fighting against Japan, France, and the United States. One cannot quite comprehend the exact number of people Genghis Khan killed during his extended conquests in Asia and Europe, but historians put the count somewhere between 38 and 40 million. Caesar is also popular for his love affair with Cleopatra VII of Egypt. And then there is the story of how he started a great fire in Rome so that he could build a new city center with a brand-new palace for himself. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He was Roman. Ciao! Mao Zedong (also Mao Tse-tung) was the father of the People’s Republic of China. Napoleon. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Who are the most important world leaders? – Harry S. Truman. His father, Marcus Aurelius, was much revered by the Romans and history would have gladly forgiven Commodus for not living up to such high standards. Ramesses II is known for his victory in the Battle of Kadesh and the peace treaty with the Hittites (being the first peace treaty in the world). There have been many infamous people who displayed a particular penchant for being the physical manifestation of evil. He was blind in one eye and legend says that he lost that eye when an eagle viciously poked it out while he was trying to steal its eggs. Qin ordered his alchemists and court physicians to create an elixir of life which would allow him to live forever, but ironically this elixir is what killed him. He was the second-youngest President elected to the office after Theodore Roosevelt. Competing in a man’s world, some of these female rulers were fiercely protective of their power, even using murder to achieve their goals. Interestingly, Adolf Hitler, although very notorious and hated for his actions, was one of the most successful leaders witnessed in history. He is also credited for bringing about several social reforms in Egypt. He was also known to be tolerant of other religions and gave full religious freedom to everyone in his empire as long as they paid him taxes. Top 10 Rulers in History 1. When we think of the evilest rulers in history, names like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Benito Mussolini rush to mind.But it's important to remember that brutality existed in rulers well before the 1930s. Although Mao Zedong was an influential leader, his policies of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution had adverse effects and remain controversial. Others, like Attila the Hun or Chinese Empress Wu, may seem like obvious choices. In his absolute madness, he declared himself a living god and had a bridge built between his palace and the temple of Jupiter, so that he could make regular consultations with the deity. Born Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Divi Filius Augustus, he was the founder and the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He has had a long record of... 4. The tales of his notoriety don’t end there. He would often rampage through enemy colonies, burning down or capturing towns, and killing every single civilian occupant. While many rulers exhibited cruelty in order to achieve certain goals, some exercised cruelty just to show off their power over others. Augustus expanded his empire, rebuilt the city, and strengthened the army. His empire extended from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. Below are the names of some great historical rulers :-1. During her reign, Buddhism was officially promoted, Chinese and Korean influence increased, and, according to tradition, a … Whether leaders are born or made, they have definitely put their mark on the world history. Queen Elizabeth I. On top of this, his fights were never fair, and he would fight injured gladiators or maimed animals in order to show off his skills. One of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War.