The most bizarre things done by famous dictators

Idi Amin wasn't happy with the title "President of Uganda," so he changed it to: "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular"

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Idi Amin -

Idi Amin had a peculiar fascination with Scotland. He frequently adorned himself in a kilt, boldly asserted his right to the Scottish throne, and even entertained the notion of wedding Queen Elizabeth. The movie 'The Last King of Scotland,' starring Forest Whitaker (pictured), tells his story.

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa -

In 1966, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa successfully ousted his cousin David Dacko (the president of Central Africa) and subsequently assumed control.

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa -

The self-proclaimed "Emperor Bokassa I of Central Africa" was tried for numerous crimes and sentenced to death, but in the end, he was eventually released. Bokassa then started calling himself the 13th Apostle of Christ.

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Joseph Stalin -

Under no circumstances was anyone authorized to enter the bedroom of the former leader of the Soviet Union.

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Joseph Stalin -

This measure proved to be fatal, as Stalin died of a stroke in his room alone, without anyone daring to enter his private chambers to check on him.

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Mariano Melgarejo -

During the late 19th century, Bolivia was under the leadership of General Mariano Melgarejo. He's known to have forced the British ambassador to drink a bowl of cocoa until he vomited, and then he tied him up on a donkey.

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Mariano Melgarejo -

He also taught his horse, named Holofernes, to drink beer and urinate on people.

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António de Oliveira Salazar -

Under the rule of 'Estado Novo' (Portuguese dictatorship) it was illegal to use a lighter without a license. This was supposedly done to protect the Portuguese match industry.

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António de Oliveira Salazar -

Coca-Cola was banned from Portugal in the 1950s under the leadership of the then Prime Minister, Salazar.

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Francois Duvalier -

The former President of Haiti, also known as "Papa Doc," claimed to be the Voodoo spirit of death, Baron Samedi.

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Francois Duvalier -

He claimed to have caused President John F. Kennedy's death in 1963 through the use of a Voodoo doll.

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Saparmurat Niyazov -

The former President of Turkmenistan thought highly of himself. He wrote a book and made it a compulsory read in mosques and schools.

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Saparmurat Niyazov -

And if that wasn't enough, he actually renamed the months of the year! Niyazov named January "Turkmenbashi," which means "Head of all the Turkmen," a name he liked to call himself.

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Rafael Trujillo -

The ex-President of the Dominican Republic, also referred to as "El Jefe" ("The Boss"), renamed various elements including the capital, roads, bridges, and mountains after himself.

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Rafael Trujillo -

In an unusual move, Trujillo named his 3-year-old son Ramfis a colonel in the Dominican Army.

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Muammar Gaddafi -

Colonel Gaddafi, the deceased Libyan leader, had a team of female bodyguards responsible for his safety, with a unique requirement—they all had to be virgins.

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Muammar Gaddafi -

However, he did make at least one wise decision during his rule by purchasing shares of the Italian soccer club, Juventus.

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Saddam Hussein -

The late leader of Iraq held the belief that it was his divine destiny to govern Iraq indefinitely, according to the New York Times.

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Saddam Hussein -

During his presidential campaign, Saddam Hussein utilized an Arabic rendition of the widely known Whitney Houston song 'I Will Always Love You.'

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Mobutu Sese Seko -

The former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo prohibited anyone else from wearing leopard-print hats.

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Mobutu Sese Seko -

Mobutu arranged a boxing spectacle known as The Rumble in the Jungle, and paid Muhammad Ali and George Foreman a sum of US$5 million each to participate in the bout.

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Francisco Macias Nguema -

The first President of Equatorial Guinea likewise opted to alter his title, deeming "Grand Master of Education, Science, and Culture" more suitable.

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Francisco Macias Nguema -

Nguema is known to have banned the word "intellectual."

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Abdalá Bucaram -

After winning the election, Ecuador's former president decided to celebrate his victory by performing an Elvis impersonation on stage instead of giving a conventional acceptance speech.

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Abdalá Bucaram -

Abdalá Bucaram was nicknamed "El Loco" ("The Madman") for many reasons, including paying soccer legend Diego Maradona US$1 million to play a game with him.

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Kim Jong-il -

Kim Jong-un has long been at the center of all sorts of bizarre stories from inside North Korea, but his father, Kim Jong-il, once had a similar reputation.

Getty Images

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Kim Jong-il -

Kim Jong-il asserted that he invented the Gogigyeopbbang, meaning "double bread with meat." Yes, it's essentially a hamburger.

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Hugo Chavez -

The former president of Venezuela invested money into strange ideas despite the country facing shortages of essential goods like toilet paper.

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Hugo Chavez -

Getty Images

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Idi Amin -

Getty Images

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Idi Amin -

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa -

In 1966, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa successfully ousted his cousin David Dacko (the president of Central Africa) and subsequently assumed control.

Getty Images

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa -

Getty Images

10 / 31 Fotos

Joseph Stalin -

Under no circumstances was anyone authorized to enter the bedroom of the former leader of the Soviet Union.

11 / 31 Fotos

Joseph Stalin -

This measure proved to be fatal, as Stalin died of a stroke in his room alone, without anyone daring to enter his private chambers to check on him.

12 / 31 Fotos

Mariano Melgarejo -

13 / 31 Fotos

Mariano Melgarejo -

He also taught his horse, named Holofernes, to drink beer and urinate on people.

Getty Images

14 / 31 Fotos

António de Oliveira Salazar -

Under the rule of 'Estado Novo' (Portuguese dictatorship) it was illegal to use a lighter without a license. This was supposedly done to protect the Portuguese match industry.

15 / 31 Fotos

António de Oliveira Salazar -

Coca-Cola was banned from Portugal in the 1950s under the leadership of the then Prime Minister, Salazar.

16 / 31 Fotos

Francois Duvalier -

The former President of Haiti, also known as "Papa Doc," claimed to be the Voodoo spirit of death, Baron Samedi.

17 / 31 Fotos

Francois Duvalier -

He claimed to have caused President John F. Kennedy's death in 1963 through the use of a Voodoo doll.

18 / 31 Fotos

Saparmurat Niyazov -

The former President of Turkmenistan thought highly of himself. He wrote a book and made it a compulsory read in mosques and schools.

19 / 31 Fotos

Saparmurat Niyazov -

And if that wasn't enough, he actually renamed the months of the year! Niyazov named January "Turkmenbashi," which means "Head of all the Turkmen," a name he liked to call himself.

20 / 31 Fotos

Rafael Trujillo -

The ex-President of the Dominican Republic, also referred to as "El Jefe" ("The Boss"), renamed various elements including the capital, roads, bridges, and mountains after himself.

21 / 31 Fotos

Rafael Trujillo -

In an unusual move, Trujillo named his 3-year-old son Ramfis a colonel in the Dominican Army.

22 / 31 Fotos

Muammar Gaddafi -

Colonel Gaddafi, the deceased Libyan leader, had a team of female bodyguards responsible for his safety, with a unique requirement—they all had to be virgins.

Getty Images

23 / 31 Fotos

Muammar Gaddafi -

However, he did make at least one wise decision during his rule by purchasing shares of the Italian soccer club, Juventus.

24 / 31 Fotos

Saddam Hussein -

The late leader of Iraq held the belief that it was his divine destiny to govern Iraq indefinitely, according to the New York Times.

25 / 31 Fotos

Saddam Hussein -

During his presidential campaign, Saddam Hussein utilized an Arabic rendition of the widely known Whitney Houston song 'I Will Always Love You.'

26 / 31 Fotos

Mobutu Sese Seko -

The former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo prohibited anyone else from wearing leopard-print hats.

27 / 31 Fotos

Mobutu Sese Seko -

Mobutu arranged a boxing spectacle known as The Rumble in the Jungle, and paid Muhammad Ali and George Foreman a sum of US$5 million each to participate in the bout.

28 / 31 Fotos

Francisco Macias Nguema -

The first President of Equatorial Guinea likewise opted to alter his title, deeming "Grand Master of Education, Science, and Culture" more suitable.

Getty Images

29 / 31 Fotos

Francisco Macias Nguema -

Nguema is known to have banned the word "intellectual."

Getty Images

30 / 31 Fotos

The most bizarre things done by famous dictators

You won't believe some of the strange decisions they made...

17/03/25 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Weird facts

Dictators are usually known for their cruelty and their oppressive regimes, but in this gallery, we'll tell you all about the less harmful but exceptionally weird things they got up to.

This collection of strange stories about some of the most powerful despots in history is as good as proof that they were all eccentric weirdos! Click through the gallery to find out all about their bizarre decisions and delusions.