Most feared historical figures? - Historum

History Chick · January 22nd, 2011, 06:46 AM

Who would you consider among the most feared people in history? I imagine the most obvious would be people like Hitler and Stalin - and then you have people whose nick names give them away like Vlad the Impaler, Ivan the Terrible and The Blood Countess. But I'm interested in other names too. Rasputin? Or was he just hated, not necessarily feared? Cesare Borgia? According to wikipedia, his original tomb said "Here lies in little earth one who was feared by all, who held peace and war in his hands" although this isn't mentioned in the book I read about the Borgias. Richard the Lionheart? Certainly feared by non-Christians!

**Salah** · January 22nd, 2011, 06:52 AM

Just about any Assyrian emperor comes to mind, as do a few Roman emperors (Gaius, Domitian, Commodus, Caracalla, the list goes on).

**Qymaen** · January 22nd, 2011, 07:01 AM

Reynald of Chatillion: He was a freakin' SOB

Gothlob Eruwaedhiel · January 22nd, 2011, 07:43 AM

Some roman emperors, dictators and others figures like Vlad the Impaler or Elizabeth Bathory.

Drew · January 22nd, 2011, 08:01 AM

Attila the Hun. Possibly even Vlad the Impaler.

Narses · January 22nd, 2011, 08:02 AM

Genghis Khan

**Salah** · January 22nd, 2011, 08:03 AM

Pirates, collectively, especially during the 17th-18th Centuries. Edward Teach, "Blackbeard", comes to mind in particular.

blacksmit049 · January 22nd, 2011, 08:11 AM

Oliver Cromwell and Qin Shi Huang

Knarly Dan · January 22nd, 2011, 08:13 AM

Genghis Khan is a contender, feared over a vastly wider area than some of the other men mentioned.

A tough call to make, but for sure I wouldn't want any of them for next door neighbors.

**plutoboyz** · January 22nd, 2011, 09:01 AM

why should I fear another humans?