Author. Thinker. Other things.
Ivan the Terrible ruled through fear mistaken for strength, converting childhood trauma into absolutism. His paranoia dismantled institutions, devastated Russia, and proved that unchecked power amplifies insecurity, rewards cruelty, and destroys states claimed to protect.
The analysis explores how Emperor Palpatine's narcissism drove his destructive leadership, fostering a culture of flattery and manipulation that ultimately led to his downfall through disillusionment, not rebellion.
Emperor Caligula's reign from AD 37 to 41 is infamous for its cruelty and excess, shifting from a promising ruler to a tyrant following a mysterious illness. Scholars suggest factors like lead poisoning, encephalitis, epilepsy, genetics, and the corrupting nature of power may explain his decline. His tragic story warns against unchecked authority.
ERIC DORFMAN 