Infamous tyrants who were executed
These megalomaniacs were eventually overthrown by those they oppressed
LIFESTYLE History
There's a good reason that democracy is the most widely accepted form of government around the world. History has shown us, time and time again, that too much power in the hands of a single person always ends badly.
Those who pursue power are usually not the most trustworthy champions to wield it. Dictators often gain authority by taking advantage of chaos and manipulating their way to the top during desperate times. They prey on the vulnerability that comes with war and social unrest, and then use their new autocratic powers to crush any opposition to their regime. Many malevolent dictators are also perpetrators of horrific crimes like massacring protestors and committing genocide in the name of ethnic cleansing.
Living under a tyrannical dictatorship both crushes spirits and ignites the flames of rebellion. Those who can no longer stand to be oppressed have often risen up and overthrown despots and, in many cases, taken their lives as retribution. Click through the following gallery to see which notorious dictators have been deposed and executed.