10 Most Brutal and Cruellest Dynasties in History

10 Cruelest and Most Brutal Dynasties in History

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at dynasties throughout history that gained and kept power through conquest, cruelty, or bloody family rivalries.

The House of Tudor

It can often prove difficult keeping track of various royal lineages throughout history, but Henry VIII is one of those English monarchs whose legacy, for better or worse, remains secure. His reign was just one belonging to the House of Tudor, which was also led by Henry VII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. The dynasty was infamous for their brutality in punishment, incorporating methods such as drawing and quartering to rule by intimidation and fear. The reigns also became known for their religious intolerance after Henry VIII established the Church of England when the Catholic Pope wouldn’t grant him a divorce. Still, two of his six marriages ended in execution.

The House of Medici

We fail to imagine a world where a family dynasty as powerful and influential as the Medicis of Italy achieved their strength through anything less than unscrupulous means. This prestigious banking family admittedly did support creativity and the arts throughout their years of influence, although they also often went to extreme lengths to retain their influence. Those that rose up in opposition to the Medicis often had their personal lives and reputations ruined by slander. Many were eliminated entirely with fatal prejudice. Not even the papacy was safe from being purchased by Medici money, while Catherine de’ Medici’s reputation for cruelty is remembered today for instances such as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

Capetian Dynasty

The history books contain many bloody stories of betrayal, punishment and death. The Tour de Nesle affair very negatively affected the familial strength of France’s Capetian Dynasty during its later years. This story of political marriages, adultery, discovery and punishment reads like a “how to” manual for a TV show like “Game of Thrones,” complete with a cruel and bloody ending. The daughters-in-law of King Philip IV were imprisoned for life and shaven bald for allegedly cheating on their royal spouses. But this was nothing compared to the fates that awaited their lovers. These cuckolding knights were said to have been castrated prior to their brutal torture and execution.

The House of Romanov

One of the most brutal revolutionary executions in history is also yet another example of a heinous wrong not making a right. The family and entourage of Nicholas II, last Tsar of Russia, were mercilessly killed and brutalized in the wake of Vladimir Lenin’s Bolshevik Revolution. This was a reprisal for the House of Romanov’s own history of unjust cruelty, their list of offenses assisting in lighting the fuse for said revolution. Nicholas II may not have enjoyed a reputation for cruelty as infamous as Peter the Great’s filicide, but the Romanov rule consistently repressed dissent and punished disobedience with death. Some attribute the misfortunes of their descendants to a curse.

Ptolemaic Dynasty

Ptolemy I ascended to rule Egypt after serving under Alexander the Great, then proclaimed himself an earthly embodiment of the gods. The legacy of his lineage was anything but ordained, however, as evidenced by the cruelty placed upon the heads of Egypt’s people and members of Ptolemy’s own family. There was a constant struggle for power over the course of the Ptolemaic Dynasty’s nearly 300-year reign. These bloody familial confrontations spilled over into how this family line forced citizens into slavery and taxed them relentlessly – all to line the coffers of Egypt’s ruling elite.

Qin Dynasty

China’s first imperial dynasty may have only lasted between fifteen and sixteen years, but it managed to eliminate the importance of individual freedoms in deference to the state. The Qin dynasty’s ruling philosophy was known as legalism. Construction on the Great Wall may have occurred during this era, but life under the tyrannical Qin Shi Huang saw an anti-intellectualist front that involved book-burning and scholars’ executions. Still, the imperial doctrines instilled by Qin Shi Huang didn’t die with the Emperor. Some of the harshest policies from the 200s BC carried on into the 20th century.

Ottoman Empire

Not all empires of cruelty belong to the ancient world or pre-20th century history. The influence of the Ottoman Empire endured for over 600 years, not coming to an end until the aftermath of the First World War. This essentially means that there exists a long and winding roadmap with which to eye this empire’s legacy of brutality and cruelty. The Greek Genocide comes to mind, which took place during the Ottoman Empire’s twilight years. However, both the Assyrian and Armenian peoples also suffered greatly in genocides perpetrated under Ottoman rule. To this day, the Turkish and Azerbaijani governments officially deny these crimes.

Neo-Assyrian Empire

It’s virtually impossible to boil down and contextualize the legacy of a dynasty with as much far-reaching influence as the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Still, this worldwide empire retains a reputation for cruelty that endures today, despite the significance of its influence on how future Middle Eastern empires would develop their ideologies. There was no quarter given to enemies on the battlefield or in politics during this time. Torture and fear-building served as important tools within the arsenal of the Neo-Assyrian Empire’s rise to power during the 10th century BC.

Mongol Empire

It may be known primarily for the legacy of the ruler Genghis Khan, but the Mongol Empire was more than just one man. It was a complicated and history-making empire that, at its peak, stretched to nine million square miles. This meant that any city that stood in the way of Mongol expansion risked utter decimation, should any resistance be offered against the empire. Additionally, there was no course of action that was considered forbidden by the opposition, as the Mongol Hordes would execute entire tribes of people without any mercy.

House of Habsburg

Political houses such as that of Habsburg aren’t usually whittled down to a single authoritative figure, yet Elizabeth Báthory wasn’t just any countess. She was the subject of a legend that alleged she bathed in the blood of young women in order to preserve her youth. Historians today, meanwhile, often debate how much truth lies within these claims against Bathory’s character. This wasn’t the only alleged examples of Habsburg cruelty, however, as evidenced by their efforts within Spanish colonialism and the Thirty Years’ War. Threats to their influence or political control were crushed by any means necessary.

What do you think is the most interesting period in history for chaotic political dynasties? Let us know in the comments.