Rulers and Dictators

The 10 Most Evil Rulers in History

5. Tamerlane the Great


A powerful ruler who is killed as much as 5% of the world population during his reign. Timur Chagatai was the founder of the Turco-Mongol Empire. His reign started in 1370 and lasted until 1405. One of the main goals in his life was to restore the empire of the Mongols that he descended from. He launched substantial military campaigns that laid waste to millions of people. He was a great patron of intellectuals and art during his reign, but had little sympathy towards the rulers that opposed him. He was often viewed as a barbarian by his opponents, but he was very opportunistic and he seized on any advantage that he could.