WICKLC1
King
Adolf Hitler is definately the most infamous leader of all time.
Most Dreaded Leaders of All time
- Thread starter Vandal Warlord
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RedRalph
Deity
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Hitler is generally seen as the epitome of evil. People like to sometimes claim Stalin was as bad, but he just isnt percieved as being as evil by most of the world. Putting Fidel Castro in there is either a joke or pathetic. Pol Pot belongs on the list too.
People loved Atilla and Genghis too, how else would they have been able to assemble the army they did? or are you referring to non national sympathisers?
Traitorfish
The Tighnahulish Kid
That was different- their power, ruthlessness and skill inspired loyalty and respect, not the sort of personality-cult that was built up around leaders like Mao or Hitler.
I mean, you make a good point- no successful leader has ruled by fear alone- I just thought that it's worth keeping in mind that there's a difference between feudal/tribal loyalty and the personality cults of modern dictators.
Most of the world does not perceive Stalin as evil?
Maybe I am way off here, but I was under the impression that most of the world is not a bunch of imbeciles.
RedRalph
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Most of the world does not perceive Stalin as evil?
Maybe I am way off here, but I was under the impression that most of the world is not a bunch of imbeciles.
you are way off, I said "as evil"
Ah. I would say I am off, but not way off. He quite clearly was at least as evil, probably more.
I disagree in that the power/ruthlessness etc inspired loyalty, i don't know much about Atilla but Genghis was very adept at making friends- Subedei etc were friends from Childhood or at least a very early age, so they must have been very able personally.
Though i do see what you mean about the difference in that the personality cults of modern dictators was emphasised on purpose through the media whilst you would only know Genghis/Atilla if you met them.
Atilla and Genghis were feared as dreaded warriors; they were people you did not want to cross, and were happy to have on your side. Ivan grozniy probably belongs in the same category.
Hitler, Stalin, and Mao on the other hand had huge propaganda campaigns to promote their popularity. They painted themselves as saviors of the people. Stalin's death caused a stampede of mourners in Moscow at his funeral. You don't get that kind of reaction by being dreaded.
And if were talking about non nationals, then Stalin shouldn't really be considered, since his international impact was not a personal fear of him. People outside the USSR feared communism, but not Stalin personally.
Genghis wasnt initially, he was respected and liked by a vast majority of people else how would he have managed to unite the mongols originally.
Perhaps we shouldn't count the opinion of their own people, but only those of everyone else. Genghis was and still is viewed by the Mongols as the great Father of their Nation. The Turks also view Attila favourably too (although most likely he wasn't Turkic).
WICKLC1
King
Most of these guys seemed really great at the time...
cubsfan6506
Got u
Stalin is only most likely less evil because during world war 2 our propaganda machines labeled him as a brave warrior, and ally against the evil Germans. Plus Hitler is basically a personification of evil, while probaly a good quearter of people haven't heard of Stalin.
Enkidu Warrior
Ultramagnetic
If my city was about to be invaded, the guy I'd least like to be heading the invaders would probably be either:
Genghis Khan: Assuming my city has offered any resistance, since that would assure we all died. At least with Mao or Stalin I could hope to keep my head down and wait for them to die.
Vlad the Impaler: Dying is one thing, the thought of being impaled makes me want to jump off a building right now just to ensure that nobody could ever do it to me.
Pol Pot/Mao: Even if I kept my head down, I'd have to deal with my society being systematically destroyed in order to cement their grip on power. This probably goes for several other tyrants too, but I'm more familiar with these two.
Genghis Khan: Assuming my city has offered any resistance, since that would assure we all died. At least with Mao or Stalin I could hope to keep my head down and wait for them to die.
Vlad the Impaler: Dying is one thing, the thought of being impaled makes me want to jump off a building right now just to ensure that nobody could ever do it to me.
Pol Pot/Mao: Even if I kept my head down, I'd have to deal with my society being systematically destroyed in order to cement their grip on power. This probably goes for several other tyrants too, but I'm more familiar with these two.
Mirc
Not mIRC!!!
That shows how many dump myths surrounding him people believe in.
He did NOT impale innocent civilians. He did NOT. He impaled SOLDIERS, in order to bring fear to the enemies (which was just what "the enemies" were doing too, in the middle ages), and OUTLAWS, people SENTENCED to death.
Yes but historical evidence supports that he did impale at least a couple of thousand soldiers. Either way its a reason to be dreaded!
Mirc
Not mIRC!!!
Yes, but that's not something you'd be scared about if he was invading your city (although I doubt he ever invaded a foreign city, only take back his own, but that's a different discussion), since you are not a soldier, right? Because the post I was answering to works only if you are not a soldier, and if you aren't, then he won't impale you.
Of course, you could still die, since, well, your city is attacked.
But I wouldn't be more scared than the average level of despair you'd get when your city was invaded by a foreign army.Similar threads
