When you think of evil people, the names that spring to mind are often modern monsters, but antiquity was brimming with its own ruthless villains. From murderous monarchs to blood‑soaked conquerors, these eleven figures left a trail of terror that still haunts history.
What Makes Evil People So Terrifying?
1 Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian ruled China from October 690 to February 705, becoming the only woman to sit on the throne in her own right. Her reign was marked by extreme cruelty: daily tortures, executions, forced suicides, and a relentless purge of rivals. She exiled or killed former empress Wang, slaughtered members of her own family—including a newborn daughter—and forced her sons into exile, one of whom was ordered to commit suicide. Wu’s reign saw thousands poisoned, strangled, mutilated, burned, or boiled alive; many had noses, ears, feet, or legs cut off. She died in December 705 at the ripe age of 81.