As you begin, here’s some much needed context. A dictator is a ruler who wields absolute authority. And with that authority comes the ability to do whatever they want. Sometimes, it leads to some seriously crazy and often endearing behavior. Read about my top five. I’m sure you’ll be deeply inspired, or at the very least intrigued.
Rafael Trujillo. To display his ultimate authority, he forced churches to put up signs honoring him that read, “God in Heaven, Trujillo on Earth.” He then spent millions organizing a massive world fair where he crowned his own daughter as Queen. Trujillo also appointed his toddler son as a high-ranking military officer and tried to get a Nobel Prize for his illiterate wife. Dad of the century!
Nicolae Ceaușescu. An epitome of vanity, he awarded himself the title “The Genius of the Carpathians.” He demanded that his nearly illiterate wife be recognized as a top scientist by the New York Academy of Science. All scientists in Romania had to include her name in their research. Nicolae also claimed his son had published several volumes on Nuclear Physics. A true family man.
Ne Win. A truly superstitious man. He changed the nations currency to 15,30,45, and 90 – his lucky numbers. The entire Burmese nation lost their savings. Ne did this because he thought that it would make him live for 90 years. He crossed bridges backwards, and once changed the nation’s roads from left-way to right. He also apparently used to bath in dolphin blood. A sucker for luck and fortune.
Gnassingbe Eyadema. Eyadema thought of himself as a superhero so, he made a comic book starring himself as a superhero. Every store in Togo had his picture, and $20 wristwatches with his image that disappeared every 15 seconds. He surrounded himself with more than 1,000 beautiful women to sing his praises after a failed assassination attempt on his life. A true self lover.
Ferdinand Marcos. His wife, Imelda Marcos, had 2,700-3,000 pairs of shoes. The money with which she bought them with was stolen from the country. He started out as a democratic president, but then turned into a dictator because of his wives obsession with shoes. He eventually fled to Hawaii with 24 bars of gold. He is up there as the most inspiring and romantic.
Choose your fighter
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