After Vlad the Impaler's death, many books describing his cruel acts became bestsellers in the German-speaking territories. It is said that he strengthened the central government with the aid of brutal punishments. His reputation for cruelty inspired the name of the popular character 'Count Dracula' as he was also known as Vlad Dracula.
Often regarded as the greatest conqueror of all time, Genghis Khan's invasions often included large-scale massacres of the civilian populations. As a result, his bloody invasions have a fearsome reputation in history.
A period of the French Revolution, when Maximilien Robespierre was an important member of the 'Committee of Public Safety,' was called the 'Reign of Terror.' During this period, numerous public executions and a series of massacres took place.
Leopold II's administration was characterized by atrocities, such as torture and murder. Millions of the Congolese people died under his rule. After a hike in the price of natural rubber, he forced people to harvest and process rubber. The hands of men, children, and women were cut off when they failed to produce the amount of rubber desired.
Ivan the Terrible was prone to episodic outbreaks of mental instability, paranoia, and rages. The later years of his reign were marked by the massacre of Novgorod, an infamous attack launched by him on the city of Novgorod, Russia.