10 Legendary Figures Who Did TERRIBLE Things

Cleopatras Murder of Siblings

Often romanticized as a seductive beauty, behind all the glamor Cleopatra was a cold-blooded politician. A femme fatale, she seduced men of power and orchestrated the deaths of those who opposed her throne. Her most heinous crimes involved the murder of her siblings, including her brothers Ptolemy XIII and XIV, both of whom were co-rulers at one point. Their deaths allowed her to further secure her position as Pharaoh. The final casualty of the siblings struggle would be Arsinoe IV, the youngest sister of Cleopatra. Arsinoe would be exiled to the Temple of Artemis and later executed on its grounds. For Cleopatra, betrayal was a means to survival, and she was an expert at that game.

Emperor Commodus Gladiatorial Murders

Considered by some historians to be the most demented of the Roman emperors, Commodus was a man obsessed with power and spectacle. If that name sounds familiar, we are indeed speaking of the same character popularized by Joaquin Phoenix in the movie Gladiator. But, compared to the movie, Commodus was far more unhinged in real life. He frequently participated in fights in the Colosseum, slaying wounded soldiers and disabled citizens dressed as gladiators. He would also order the executions of his foes, allies, and family members, all while demanding admiration. Declaring himself a god, Commodus ran Rome like a circus and was a megalomaniac of the highest order.

Attila the Huns European Devastation

The Scourge of God was an apt moniker for a man who led one of the most ruthless European invasion campaigns in history. Wave after wave, Attila the Hun unleashed his armies upon the Eastern and Western Roman empires. In his passing, cities burned, and entire civilizations were uprooted. A ruthless and bloodthirsty man of battle, Attila and the Huns treated the lives of others as meaningless, lending to a rule of terror, slaughter, and extortion. Famine and disease followed in the wake of his armies, so much so that he was believed by some to be a punishment from Heaven.

Tamerlanes Tower of Skulls

Believing yourself to be descended from Genghis Khan goes two ways: you can be a brilliant military strategist and a bloodthirsty warlord. Tamerlane was precisely both. Founder of the Timurid Empire, he conquered much of Asia and moved onto Europe as well, bringing terror and brutality upon his enemies. From being buried alive, decapitated, and forcing thousands to die by jumping from extreme heights, to death by suffocation, burning, and dismemberment, Tamerlane was responsible for the killing of over 15 to 20 million people. Revelling in his conquests, Tamerlane ordered massive towers to be made from his enemies skulls so that he could look upon them with satisfaction. His empire was short-lived, but his legacy of terror was not.

Queen Wu Zetians Path to Power

The only legitimate female ruler of China, Wu Zetian, rose to power from being an Emperors concubine to an emperor through deceit and cunning. Her lust for power was evident in her ruthless, cruel, and sadistic personality. She went to great lengths to obtain power, allegedly murdering her infant daughter to frame the then Empress Wang. Under her reign, she would execute the ex-empress, along with her rivals, purge her opposition, and even eliminate dissonant elements within her own family. Wus ambition drove her to these ends, and while her reign shattered gender barriers, she claimed the lives of hundreds.

Alexander the Greats Massacre of the Thebans

Alexander the Great is remembered for, well, being great. He rose to the throne of Macedon after his father, Philip II, was assassinated. His daring exploits and stratagems are studied to this day, but one of his earliest acts as king was the destruction of the rebellious Greek city of Thebes. Alexanders forces killed an estimated 6,000 citizens. The survivors, mainly women and children, were sold into slavery. It was an example of overwhelming dominance which demonstrated to the other Greek city-states that Alexander was willing to use extreme measures to assert his authority. It was a ruthless message from a young ruler who would go on to conquer a vast territory: Challenge me, and your city vanishes.

Herod the Greats Massacre of the Innocents

Much like others who have been adorned with the moniker of great, Herod, the king of Judea, committed his fair share of atrocities. Best known for wanting to kill Jesus, Herod became infamous for ordering the Massacre of the Innocents. Overwhelmed by his paranoia of a prophesied chosen one who would take his throne, Herod ordered every boy of age two or younger in Bethlehem to be eliminated. The line between insanity and genius is relatively thin. In Herods case, his paranoia and lust for power led him to become a mad tyrant whose greatness was built upon the blood of innocents.

Nebuchadnezzar II

The Kingdom of Babylon was renowned for its stunning architecture, including the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was also known for being ruled by the maddest of all mad kings in history: King Nebuchadnezzar II. Fear was his greatest tool, and during his biblically-documented seven-year descent into insanity, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem, destroyed the temple of Solomon, and exiled thousands of Jews during the Babylonian Captivity. He razed cities and built upon their ruins to expand his empire, using the very people he conquered and enslaved with forced labor. Though credited as a great builder, Nebuchadnezzar was a tyrant. Under his reign, civilization flourishedbut often atop ruins.

Emperor Neros Persecution of Christians

History says, Nero fiddled while Rome burned. The fifth emperor of Rome cared little about anything. Accountability was lost on Nero. There was always someone to blame, other than himself. After the Great Fire of Rome, when nearly three-quarters of Rome was destroyed, the Christian populace was in his crosshairs. Nero scapegoated the Christians as the reason behind the fire. He had them crucified, burned alive as human torches, fed to wild animals in arenas, and even torn apart by dogs. The depravity of Neros actions led the Christians to see him as the Antichrist. In the end, the truth prevailed: Rome may have burned, but it was Nero who lit the match.

Genghis Khans Genocidal Conquests

From being an outcast in his tribe, the man known as Genghis Khan went on to unite the Mongol tribes and establish the largest empire in history. Conquering most of China and almost all land through the Caspian Sea, Genghis and his armies killed countless civilians and brought ruin to various cities. Brutality was the way of the Khans soldiers. Women were often brutally assaulted in the presence of their families and thousands were enslaved. By the time of his death, Genghis genocidal conquests resulted in the deaths of over 40 million people. Using terror as his weapon, the Khan had two conditions for those who opposed him: surrender and survive, or resist and perish.

Legends are eternal, but history reveals the darkness behind their glory. Which of these legendary figures surprised you with their dark side? Are there any others whose legendary deeds hide the monster within? Let us know in the comments and be sure to like and subscribe for more exciting content.