25 Most Cruel Rulers In History

Herod the Great

Herod the Great – the same Herod the Great of the Bible that slaughtered male children to try and kill Jesus in the process – was definitely an evil ruler. The ancient historian Josephus recorded a good many of his wicked deeds, including killing three of his sons, killing his favorite wife of his ten wives, drowning a high priest, killing his mother-in-law, a few uncles, and was said to plot to kill a stadium of Jewish leaders.