There have been many men and women throughout the course of history who have made a lasting impact. But for some, their name and actions left an indelibly controversial impression on the world.

From scientists and politicians, to religious leaders and emperors, several infamous leaders’ show off their sheer drive, ambition and ambition — actions that can divide opinions and cause immense controversy.

Here are some of the most divisive figures from across the world, who forever shaped the course of history, for better or for worse.

1. Josef Stalin — Dictatorial Soviet Union Leader

Josef Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953. He is often remembered for the brutal policies and grim tactics he used to prevent opposition movement, including concentration camps and execution of political rivals.

He was responsible for mass famine and deaths of millions of people, and yet, today he is celebrated in Russia for his role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

2. Julius Caesar — Roman General, Statesman

Julius Caesar was a pivotal figure in Roman history and his influence on the period is still evident. His most notorious accomplishment was to cross the Rubicon and enter Italy with an army, thus causing a civil war.

He ordered the massacre of Germans, killed thousands of Roman citizens, and turned himself into a dictator. Even today, Julius Caesar is seen as one of the most polarizing figures in Roman history.

3. Christopher Columbus — Explorer of the Americas

Christopher Columbus is one of the most controversial figures in history. While he is often credited as the discoverer of the New World, he is also remembered for his brutality towards the indigenous peoples he encountered.

He was a skilled mariner, but also an imperialist, who was responsible for the genocide of thousands of Native Americans. As a result, Columbus is viewed in a different light depending on the viewpoints of the observer.

4. Adolf Hitler — German Dictator

Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany, and his name is synonymous with genocide and hatred. During World War II he ordered the extermination of Jews and other political enemies, leading to the Holocaust and death of as many as 6 million people.

He led his country on a path of destruction and hatred, and his actions are still remembered and condemned around the world.

5. Genghis Khan — Mongol Conqueror

Genghis Khan was one of the most powerful and successful conquerors in the world and is still remembered for his brutal tactics and expansion of the Mongol Empire. During his reign, Khan ordered the massacre of hundreds of thousands of people, and is often remembered as a ruthless barbarian.

But, he is also credited for the creation of the Mongolian state, a legal system, and his famous pony express. He is seen as both a brutal leader and a great conqueror.

6. Mao Zedong — Chinese Communist Leader

Mao Zedong was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China from 1949 to 1976. He is often seen as a revolutionary leader, but he is also remembered for his brutal dictatorship and the Cultural Revolution.

He threw out traditional Confucian values, purged political opponents and thought participants, and caused the death of millions of people.

7. Queen Elizabeth I — Queen of England

Queen Elizabeth I of England was one of the most popular and controversial figures in British history. She was a skilled leader who led England through a period of great prosperity, expanding its colonial holdings, foreign trade, and naval prowess.

She was also a staunch Protestant who persecuted Catholics, including her cousin Mary I. As a result, she is one of the most divisive figures in British history, beloved by some and vilified by others.

8. Saddam Hussein — Former President of Iraq

Saddam Hussein was the President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. He rose to power through ruthless tactics, including the execution of political opponents, and ordered invasions of neighboring countries.

Hussein’s genocidal policies, including the 1988 gassing of Kurdish people, earned him international condemnation, while his strong suppression of internal opposition was seen as a stabilizing factor in the region by some.

9. Pope Innocent III — Leader of the Catholic Church

Pope Innocent III was the leader of the Catholic Church from 1198 to 1216, and one of the most powerful figures of medieval Europe. He is remembered for making papal authority absolute, and for his part in the Albigensian Crusade, a brutal campaign against the Cathar heresy.

He was also a patron of the arts and sciences, and his reign is considered by some to be a “golden age” of papal rule.

10. Ivan the Terrible — Tsar of Russia

Ivan the Terrible was the Tsar of Russia from 1530 to 1584. He is remembered for his brutality towards his enemies, causing thousands of deaths and using cruel punishments such as mutilation.

He was also an accomplished military leader, conquering foreign territories and greatly expanding the Russian Empire. He remains one of the most controversial figures in Russian history.

11. Idi Amin — Former Dictator of Uganda

Idi Amin was the military dictator of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He is remembered for his tyrannical rule, causing the death of as many as 500,000 people and expelling tens of thousands of Ugandans of Indian and Pakistani origin.

He is also remembered for his eccentric and unpredictable behavior, earning him the nickname “The Last King of Scotland”.

12. Queen Elizabeth II — Queen of England

Queen Elizabeth II is one of the longest-ruling monarchs in British history, and is often seen as a symbol of national unity. But she is also a controversial figure, viewed as a symbol of privilege and wealth to some, while others see her as a staunch conservative who resisted social and political reform.

13. Louis XIV — King of France

Louis XIV was one of the longest-reigning monarchs in French history, ruling from 1643 to 1715. He is often remembered for establishing absolute monarchy in France, leading to a vast expansion of his country’s power and influence.

But, he is also remembered for brutally suppressing political opponents and levying oppressive taxes, leading to the peasant class becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the monarchy.

14. Margaret Thatcher — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She is remembered as one of the most influential figures in modern British politics. She was renowned for her toughness and refusal to compromise.

But, her controversial policies also included privatization, de-regulation and deepening of economic inequality. Her divisive policies were seen as a betrayal of the working class, and as a result she is remembered as one of the most controversial leaders in British history.

15. Benedict Arnold — Revolutionary War General

Benedict Arnold was an American general during the Revolutionary War who defected to the British Army in 1780. He is remembered as one of the most notorious traitors in American history.

He was also a skilled military leader, who succeeded in several battles against the British. His betrayal of the American cause is still remembered, but his military achievements are also sometimes acknowledged.

16. Fidel Castro — Former Leader of Cuba

Fidel Castro was the leader of the Cuban Revolution from 1959 to 2008. He is remembered for his commitment to socialism and for nationalizing Cuba’s oil industry, leading to the country’s economic independence.

But, he is also remembered for his oppressive rule of the country, and his stance against the United States and its trade embargo. His support of socialist policies has angered some while inspiring others.

17. Osama Bin Laden — Al Qaeda Leader

Osama Bin Laden was the leader of the militant Islamist group Al Qaeda and the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks in the United States. He is viewed as a mass murderer by some, while others view him as an Islamic revolutionary.

He was killed in 2011 by American forces, bringing a conclusion to one of the longest manhunts in history.

18. Pope Pius XII — Leader of the Catholic Church

Pope Pius XII was the leader of the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958, and is remembered as one of the most controversial figures in religious history. He is remembered for his role in the Holocaust and his failure to publicly condemn Nazi atrocities.

He was also a powerful political leader, and made significant contributions to the development of Catholic doctrine. His legacy remains contested among historians.

19. Vlad III Dracula — Ruler of Wallachia

Vlad III Dracula was a ruler of the kingdom of Wallachia from 1448 to 1476. He is remembered for his violent tactics and his brutality towards his enemies. He was known to boil or impale his captives, earning him the nickname “Vlad the Impaler”.

But, he is also remembered for being a skillful military leader who defended his country against Islamic invaders. To this day, he is one of the most controversial figures in European history.

20. Mahatma Gandhi — Indian Political Activist

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. He was a major political and spiritual leader in India, leading the country to independence despite the brutality of the British Empire. He advocated non-violent resistance and forged a path of civil disobedience that inspired other freedom fighters.

But, he is also remembered for his controversial beliefs regarding religious tolerance and race. His legacy continues to be debated today and his name will remain linked with some of the greatest political controversies in history.

As these examples show, history is full of people who had strong and controversial beliefs. Some have left a legacy of greatness and triumph, while others have left a legacy of destruction and despair. But regardless of the actions these historical figures took, their influence has shaped the world we live in today.

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