The line between a revolutionary hero and a ruthless autocrat is often crossed in a single afternoon. History is filled with figures who began as champions of the people, only to succumb to the seductive pull of absolute authority. From the ancient banks of the Rubicon to the modern halls of the Kremlin, these shifts are rarely accidental; they are calculated maneuverings.
Click on to explore historical moments that turned leaders into the world's most feared tyrants.