The 10 Most Evil Rulers of the Ancient World

The corruption caused by power is older than the first written records. No doubt you can easily name more recent examples of terrible despots who abused their positions of authority. But can you name any ancient ones? In this video, we look at the ten worst rulers of the ancient world.

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[Vodgepie]

The production quality, the content quality, quality quality. The most underrated history channel on YouTube.

[napoleoncomplex]

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard of a ruler burning someone to death inside a bronze structure, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't much, but it's weird that it happened twice on opposite sides of the world.

[froggystyle]

Dr Miano, you missed my mother-in-law from this list!

[Roatanlovafmplliiiak]

History was never so captivating, told so eloquently and pieced together so clearly. I could watch your videos several times and never get bored - thank you!

[leafybotanist]

I would love to see a community of expert youtubers like this grow and collaborate. Geologists, Biologists, Archaeologists and Historians all addressing the wild conspiracy theories.

We need you to be the Tony Stark in this group David! Put the team together! Avengers of History, Truth and Science!

[michaelsun]

As a Chinese, I have to say your analyzing of 纣王 and sometimes their blame of women is quite spot on. But of course through the long history of China, they have also praised lots of heroic females.

[waveygravey]

Floating on wine surrounded by meat trees. Yeah I can't see a problem with that.

[jsoth]

Evil tyrants part 2? One of my favorite channels on youtube.

[BazNard]

Wow. Consistently the best content I ever see on YouTube. I wasn't even into history until I found you - I was a physics/cosmology guy before. OMG. I'll be joining Patreon.

[tomdotcom]

Might have been helpful if a family tree diagram was on-screen during the Ptolemy VII section, but beside that it was a pretty interesting and informative vid!

[callmedavid]

I wish "stabbed the sacred apis bull" was a common term when someone got angry. "Man tommy was so mad last night he stabbed the sacred apis bull."

[JonnoPlays]

Great stories. This was a fascinating watch

[anupamsinha]

I have always been interested in Ancient Words and my first brush was with Indian History (being an Indian) and then I discovered a few books by B B Lal which further peaked my curiosity. After that I got in the grip of Pseudo-Archaeology of Eric Von Danikin. Since then I have been reading up a lot but your videos are the best thing that have happened to me... Whatever I may be doing... I have a video of your on play... I have heard all your videos more than once. Heard and not seen because I am usually working while this plays in the background. Thank you so much for being so awesome. I am 50 years old and while i missed the bus on becoming a archaeologist... I am inspiring my daughter who is 16 to take it up as a career... Hope it works out!!!

[timholland]

Just found your channel and loving it. Cambyses II is an interesting one, and I think you do a nice job balancing out the fact that Herodotus is our main source for his life. Dan Carlin's King of Kings series presents an interesting perspective on the fact that there seems to be some conflicting accounts about if Cambyses was actually that bad. He points out that some of the story told about him and Bardiya (who might have succeeded him) are very odd. They seem to be designed to make Darius look good. One of my all-time favorite stories from the ancient world. Thanks for pumping out this awesome content.

[Lol-udcs]

thank U sooo much...helped me a lot with my homework

[Thatsciencedude]

As an Iranian, I was expecting Sasanian kinds to show up on this list instead of Achaemenids ones. Cambyses may have had anger management issues, but he comes nowhere close to Shapur II in being ruthless.

[mrobert]

Great content Doc. Sounds strange saying that, considering the subject. But your professional, professorial presentation of what has been recorded in the past provides the proper tenor for the topic.

[georgenorris]

Your storytelling is second to none and your knowledge astounding! Rivetting stuff!

[ajittiwari]

Charles Allen, historian and several Buddhist text agree that Ashoka had converted to Buddhism decades before the Kalinga War. He killed six (not 99) of his brothers for the throne.

[welcometonebalia]

At first I was a bit surprised to see Ashoka here, but I guess he earned that place.

Thank you.