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History is blemished by countless dictators, each one tainted by atrocities. Beyond their brutal actions, these men had personal lives, romantic relationships, and families. As the saying goes, "behind every great man is a great woman." But just what did the personal lives of these notorious dictators look like, and who were the women who shared those lives with them?
Interested? Click on to learn about the fascinating women behind these despotic men!
Rachele Mussolini, the second wife of Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, came from modest beginnings. She crossed paths with her future husband while employed as a kitchen maid at his parents' inn. They went on to have five children: Edda, Vittorio, Bruno, Romano, and Anna Maria.
Despite her husband's position, Rachele Mussolini lived a reserved life and attempted to avoid attention. While the dictator perished in 1945, she was spared. His mistress, Claretta Petacci, was not as fortunate.
Carmen Polo, the wife of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, was known for her strong Catholic faith. It is believed that Polo played a role in the censorship of "immoral images" (i.e., anything alluding to sex) during her husband's regime.
Carmen Polo had a unique fashion style, often adorned in luxurious clothing and jewelry, earning her the nicknames "Dona Pearls" and "Dona Necklaces." However, her extravagant lifestyle appeared contradictory as it clashed with the religious piety she preached.
The union of Eva Braun and Adolf Hitler is well known. It is believed that they got married just before their deaths, which means Braun didn't live her life as the official Führer's wife.
Braun was known to wear expensive clothes and jewelry, to eat very little, and to drink a lot of champagne. She and Adolf Hitler were together for more than ten years.
Sajida Khayrallah, the first wife of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, was actually his cousin. Their union was arranged since childhood. Khayrallah was known for adopting a Western fashion sense, often importing clothes from Europe and dyeing her hair blond.
Hussein had multiple affairs, one of which was with a woman named Samira Shahbandar whom he later married. Both his spouse, Samira, and former spouse, Sajida, departed Iraq amidst the conflict.
Nadezhda Alliluyeva was married to Joseph Stalin, the former Premier of the Soviet Union. Alliluyeva initially served as Stalin's personal assistant. The pair got married when she reached the age of 16.
Despite becoming a mother, Nadezhda Alliluyeva remained employed as a member of her spouse's secretarial team. Their relationship was reportedly troubled, with constant arguing, abuse, and Alliluyeva increasingly suffering from panic attacks.
Khieu Ponnary, the wife of Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, earned the nickname "the old virgin" because of her conservative image. Ponnary helped cement the communist movement known as Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
Also known as "the mother of the revolution" and "Sister Number One," Khieu Ponnary eventually disappeared from the spotlight due to the onset of severe mental illness.
Jiang Qing, also known as "Madame Mao," was rumored to possess the same hunger for power and ruthlessness as her spouse, Mao Zedong, the Chinese communist leader. Interestingly, Qing pursued a parallel career in acting, appearing in films under a stage name.
Jiang Qing ardently supported the regime, and despite being tried and initially sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment), she never expressed remorse for the regime's brutal actions. Qing ended her own life in 1991.
Lucía Hiriart is credited for persuading her husband, Augusto Pinochet, to proceed with the coup that propelled him into power in Chile. Known for her lavish lifestyle and expensive taste, Hiriart reportedly had a team of 20 people working for her.
Ferdinand Marcos, a Filipino dictator, tied the knot with former beauty queen Imelda Marcos in 1954. During her husband's reign, Imelda Marcos is said to have set up an embezzlement scheme, that cost the country around US$10 billion.
Imelda Marcos possessed an impressive jewelry collection, a substantial amount of expensive artworks, and multiple skyscrapers in New York City, just to name a few indulgences enjoyed by her.
Elena Ceaușescu, known as the spouse of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, was a chemical researcher. While she aimed to be respected as a top scientist, it turned out many papers credited to her were in fact not authored by her.
Ri Sol-ju is the wife of Kim Jong-un, North Korea's Supreme Leader. Western media has compared her to Kate Middleton due to her fashion sense. Prior to 2012, she remained out of the spotlight and little information is available about her.
Safia Farkash, the spouse of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, reportedly crossed paths with him during his hospital stay where she worked as a nurse. Over time, they became parents to seven biological children and welcomed two more through adoption.
After an extramarital affair, Grace Mugabe became the second wife of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's former president. Similar to her late husband, Grace Mugabe indulged in a luxurious lifestyle, often noted for her international shopping sprees funded by the regime.
Idi Amin, the former President of Uganda, was a polygamist who married six women. One of his wives, Sarah Kyolaba, a former go-go dancer, was married to Amin from 1975 to 2003.
Bobi Ladawa Mobutu was the second wife of former Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) leader Mobutu Sese Seko. The couple had four children. Since her husband's passing in 1997, she has lived in exile.
Krupskaya, the spouse of Vladimir Lenin, was an ardent Russian revolutionary. She enjoyed a political career and helped shape the Soviet educational system and libraries.
Leïla Ben Ali was the second wife of Tunisia's former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. She is credited for inciting the Arab Spring through years of involvement in corruption and embezzlement.
Cilia Flores, the spouse of Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro, serves as the country's First Lady. She fulfills dual roles as a lawyer and a political figure.
Similar to her husband, Flores has also been accused of dubious actions, such as appointing multiple family members to government roles.
Asma al-Assad worked as an investment banker in the UK prior to her marriage to the former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. It was believed that she would bring a democratic influence in the country, but leaked emails exposed that al-Assad is a lavish spender and a supporer of her husband's activities.
Dalia Soto del Valle was Fidel Castro's second wife. Their personal life remained shrouded in secrecy, with her identity carefully concealed. Del Valle first made a public appearance with Castro 30 years after their marriage.
Sources: (Grunge) (The Clever) (Legit)
Who were the women behind the dictators?
Exploring the personal lives of notorious leaders
LIFESTYLE Partners
History is blemished by countless dictators, each one tainted by atrocities. Beyond their brutal actions, these men had personal lives, romantic relationships, and families. As the saying goes, "behind every great man is a great woman." But just what did the personal lives of these notorious dictators look like, and who were the women who shared those lives with them?
Interested? Click on to learn about the fascinating women behind these despotic men!