He is the first North American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church
Vladimir Lenin, the influential figure behind the Russian Revolution, couldn't escape the grip of an STI. According to historian Helen Rappaport, the leader of Soviet Russia acquired syphilis after a suspected liaison in Paris. Later on, Lenin was observed by a syphilis expert in 1922 and told to follow a specific medication for the disease.
According to The Guardian, Lenin experienced various neurological problems in his last years, which could be attributed to syphilis. He reportedly had episodes of unconsciousness, numbness in his right hand, intense headaches, insomnia, hallucinations, loss of appetite, and epileptic seizures. However, there are skeptics who challenge this claim, as his death certificate stated cerebral atherosclerosis as the cause of death, despite his personal physicians' hesitation to endorse it. Alternatively, some argue that stress may have played a role in causing the strokes that ultimately led to his demise in 1924.
Joseph Stalin, head of the Soviet Union, experienced a decline in his health starting in 1945, believed to be due to a sequence of strokes or heart attacks, impacting not only his physical well-being but also his mental state, leading to heightened paranoia.
The doctor who treated Stalin before his death in 1953 asserts that the Soviet dictator had a condition called atherosclerosis, where his brain arteries hardened. The doctor believes Stalin had been dealing with this condition for a long time. According to The Telegraph, the doctor stated in his memoirs, "It is easy to imagine that in Stalin it caused him to lose the ability to distinguish between what was good and bad and who is a friend and who is an enemy."
Following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the renowned Emperor of France faced a short-lived existence. He was subsequently exiled to the island of St. Helena. There were speculations concerning his death in 1821, with rumors of arsenic poisoning circulating for some time. However, according to National Geographic, historians maintain the view that Napoleon actually succumbed to stomach cancer.
Gastric cancer, which claimed his father, was also discovered during Napoleon's autopsy in 1821, which revealed lesions in his gut. Furthermore, contemporary researchers have found indications of bleeding in his intestines. Towards the end of his life, the former emperor reportedly experienced significant weight loss, indicating that the cancer had progressed to an advanced stage. Certain individuals speculate that his consumption of rich, salty French cuisine might have played a role in this.
According to Kathlyn Gay's biography 'Mao Zedong's China,' it was reported that the founder of the People's Republic of China and chairman of the Chinese Communist Party had difficulties maintaining proper hygiene. Allegedly, he chose not to bathe or brush his teeth, preferring to use hot towels and consume tea instead. This unhygienic lifestyle resulted in the formation of abscesses and tooth decay. However, these health issues were just a fraction of his overall health problems, as he also experienced several heart attacks in the later years of his life.
During his youth, Mao suffered from recurrent bronchitis and even contracted tuberculosis, resulting in a lengthy record of chronic obstructive airways disease. Despite his efforts to conceal his declining health, he was ultimately diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1974. His muscle weakness progressively worsened, eventually impairing his ability to communicate effectively, until he passed away two years later.
The Cuban leader enjoyed good health for the majority of his life. However at 80 years old, he developed a severe case of diverticulitis, which is a condition that causes inflammation in the intestines.
Diverticulitis is quite common among older individuals, causing intense pain and possibly resulting in death. According to a report in The Guardian, Castro underwent various surgeries for diverticulitis in 2007, one of which failed and which took Castro five months to recover from. During this time, his brother Raúl assumed control of the government. However, Castro's health problems persisted, leading to his retirement in 2008 and eventual death eight years later.
King Henry VIII, adored in his younger years, aged and transformed into an overweight, domineering, and cruel ruler. Shockingly, he ordered the execution of two of his wives, and countless other individuals. According to The Independent, some attribute his behavior to a distressing jousting accident in 1536, which potentially caused a lasting brain injury. However, there are dissenting opinions that dismiss this theory.
It is probable that the event, regardless of its effect on his brain, exacerbated his existing leg ulcers, which he had apparently been afflicted with since at least 1527. These ulcers caused him significant agony, especially considering they were regularly treated with "cauterized red-hot irons," as stated in the medical article 'Henry VIII, leg ulcers and the course of history' by CR Chalmers and EJ Chaloner. It is speculated that this pain may have contributed to the intensification of his tyrannical inclinations.
There has for many years been much debate surrounding Adolf Hitler's physical health. It is widely believed that he began suffering from Parkinson's disease in 1933, when he assumed power in Germany. Experts point to his frequent hand tremors, as well as pre-existing personality traits, such as extreme mental inflexibility and excessive attention to detail, which often indicate Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's is a degenerative condition that affects the nervous system and can also have cognitive effects. These effects include disrupted sleep, angry outbursts, periods of depression, mistrust of colleagues, and suspiciousness. Some studies suggest that Parkinson's may have influenced Hitler's decision-making during WWII, contributing to his poor military choices.
Gaius Julius Caesar, the Roman leader who transitioned from being a general to a dictator, was widely recognized for his military aptitude. However, there is one battle that remains lesser known. According to Roman biographer Suetonius, Caesar "was subject to sudden fainting fits and disturbances in his sleep. He was likewise twice seized with the 'falling sickness,' while engaged in active service."
Historians initially believed that Caesar had epilepsy, but recent research in 2018 indicates that he may have experienced strokes. According to doctors Francesco M. Galassi and Hutan Ashrafian from Imperial College London, Caesar's symptoms align more closely with cerebrovascular disease, which impairs blood flow and brain blood vessels. However, it remains true that only his assassins were capable of bringing down Caesar.
Despite being successful in implementing reforms to the kingdom, it is said that Richard III suffered from scoliosis, a condition characterized by a curved spine. This reportedly had affected him since his teenage years, resulting in uneven shoulders, frequent back spasms, and constant pain.
According to Enrique Moradiellos' biography, the ex-dictator of Spain ruled for many years before exhibiting symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as hand tremors and facial muscle weakness. He also experienced stomach ulcers, a common consequence of Parkinson's.
In contrast to some individuals on this list, Franco's declining health seemed to have tempered his ruthlessness by the late 1960s. Eventually, he allowed others to govern, leading to reforms across Spain.
François Duvalier, former president of Haiti, had diabetes and various related health issues. A significant event occurred in 1959 when he experienced a heart attack caused by his diabetes, leading him into a nine-hour coma.
Following the coma, Duvalier became noticeably more paranoid and ruthless. His physician attributed this change to neurological damage impacting his mental health. By the time of his death in 1971, attributed to complications related to diabetes, approximately 30,000 Haitians had reportedly lost their lives under his regime.
Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, known for implementing martial law during his regime, began experiencing symptoms of lupus in his early sixties. The severity of this autoimmune disease led him to undergo kidney transplants in 1983 and 1984.
In Katherine Ellison's 'Imelda: Steel Butterfly of the Philippines,' it's revealed that due to his deteriorating health, Ferdinand Marcos became more and more dependent on his wife Imelda to assume the role of the head of government. Nonetheless, their time in power was short-lived as they were eventually compelled to flee the Philippines in 1986. Marcos passed away three years later.
When the Chinese Nationalist and former leader of the Republic of China reached his seventies, he experienced urinary difficulties. Despite undergoing surgeries, he became incontinent, thus losing control over his bladder.
According to biographer Jay Taylor's book 'Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China,' the ruler had such severe incontinence that "he began a routine of remaining seated at the conclusion of meetings until everyone—except his aides—had departed". This was to prevent anyone from witnessing his urine-soaked pants. These details are revealed in Taylor's book.
Ivan IV, a hugely disliked Russian czar known as "Ivan the Terrible," gained notoriety for his paranoia and frequent outbursts of anger. These bouts were so extreme that he even murdered his own son, who was his sole heir. It is speculated that his constant ill temper may have been influenced by the severe arthritis he suffered from since a young age, causing him significant physical agony. Additionally, the medications he consumed, including arsenic and mercury, might have exacerbated his paranoid tendencies.
According to modern scholars, Herod the Great displayed despotic tendencies, a behavior that modern scholars partly link to a deadly combination of kidney disease and Fournier's gangrene—an infectious condition affecting the male genitals. His presumed physical discomfort may have influenced his mental state, leading to increased irritability and cruelty. In fact, Herod reportedly attempted to end his own life using a paring knife, as detailed in Peter Richardson and Amy Marie Fisher's 'Herod: King of the Jews and Friend of the Romans.'
Mobutu Sese Seko ruled Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) ruthlessly and corruptly for 30 years. At the age of 60, his deteriorating health became known to the public and he sought treatment for prostate cancer in France. During his absence, political adversaries seized power and compelled him into exile. Mobutu passed away shortly afterwards in Morocco.
In 2013, researchers identified sarcoidosis as the cause of the French revolutionary leader's declining health. Signs of his fragile well-being became evident in 1791, characterized by twitches and jaundice. His suffering abruptly ended when he was executed by guillotine a few years later.
Sources: (History) (The Guardian) (Reuters) (The Telegraph) (The Independent) (The Guardian) (National Geographic)
Some might say that inflicting unhappiness on others is the result of suffering an equal amount of personal unhappiness. When examining the illnesses that affected some of history's most infamous despots, this argument seems quite reasonable. Many tyrants endured a range of illnesses, some curable, others fatal. And scholars today suggest that these afflictions may have contributed to their cruel reputations by intensifying their malice and irritability. However, it is important to note that illness does not excuse their villainous nature; it simply provides more context to their actions. So, how bad does it take to be barbaric?
Click through the gallery and find out.
Diseases and disorders of history's notorious tyrants
Common ailments afflicting infamous dictators
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Some might say that inflicting unhappiness on others is the result of suffering an equal amount of personal unhappiness. When examining the illnesses that affected some of history's most infamous despots, this argument seems quite reasonable. Many tyrants endured a range of illnesses, some curable, others fatal. And scholars today suggest that these afflictions may have contributed to their cruel reputations by intensifying their malice and irritability. However, it is important to note that illness does not excuse their villainous nature; it simply provides more context to their actions. So, how bad does it take to be barbaric?
Click through the gallery and find out.