5 Monarchs Who Committed Unthinkable Acts of Evil

These monarchs were sadistic maniacs

A portrait of Ivan the Terrible by Viktor Vasnetsov, 1897 (Wikimedia Commons)

Throughout human history, there have been numerous monarchs who have abused their authority and acted without mercy. Their names have become synonymous with bloodshed, terror, and oppression. They didn’t care about their people and were determined to hold onto their power by any means necessary.

While there will always be debates about who was the worst monarch of all time, the following individuals committed unthinkable acts of evil during their infamous reigns.

1. Emperor Qin Shi Huang

A portrait of Qin Shi Huang by an unknown artist, c. eighteenth century (Wikimedia Commons)

Born in 259 BCE, Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China and the founder of the Qin dynasty. He inherited the state of Qin from his father, King Zhuangxiang, but he managed to conquer the other Chinese kingdoms in a brutal campaign involving chariots, cavalry, and infantry.

Having settled himself in the city of Xianyang, Shi Huang imposed his will on the rest of China. He demanded absolute loyalty from all of his citizens. Governors, military commanders, and inspectors monitored the population, imposing cruel physical…