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0 / 29 Fotos
Joseph Stalin's children
- The former Premier of the Soviet Union had five children: Vasily Stalin (left), Yakov Dzhugashvili, Svetlana Alliluyeva (center), Artyom Sergeyev (adopted), and an unnamed boy (presumably his first child).
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Joseph Stalin's son: Yakov Dzhugashvili
- Officially Stalin's eldest son, Yakov Dzhugashvili fought against the Nazis. He was captured and imprisoned by the Germans, and eventually died at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1943.
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Joseph Stalin's daughter: Svetlana Alliluyeva
- For her part, Svetlana Alliluyeva made history in 1967 when she defied all of her father's wishes and every tradition of the Soviet Union by defecting to the United States. But this was only after her father passed away in 1953.
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Benito Mussolini's children
- Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had six children. Among them was the late jazz pianist Romano Mussolini, aircraft pilot Bruno Mussolini, film critic Vittorio Mussolini, as well as Benito Albino Mussolini and Anna Maria Mussolini.
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Benito Mussolini daughter: Edda Mussolini
- Edda Mussolini was also one of the Duce's children. She married Count Galeazzo Ciano, who cautioned Mussolini about allying Italy with Nazi Germany. Edda's father wasn't too happy about his son-in-law's position, so he executed him for treason.
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Francisco Franco's daughter: Carmen Franco y Polo
- María del Carmen Franco y Polo was the daughter of the infamous Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and his wife, Carmen Polo.
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Francisco Franco's daughter: Carmen Franco y Polo
- In 1978, four years after her father's death, Carmen was arrested at Madrid-Barajas International Airport for trying to smuggle gold, jewelry, and medals that once belonged to the Generalissimo.
© Getty Images
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Kim Il-sung 's son: Kim Jong-il
- The son of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung followed in his father footsteps. Kim Jong-il became the Supreme Leader of North Korea, and a ruthless one at that. His son, Kim Jong Un, continued his legacy.
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Kim Jong Un's daughter: Kim Ju-ae
- Kim Ju-ae is the daughter of current North Korea leader Kim Jong Un. Kim Ju-ae could potentially become her father's successor.
© Getty Images
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Muammar Gaddafi's children
- The former Libyan leader is believed to have had at least eight children. Pictured are his sons (L-R) Saif al-Arab, Khamis (who became a military commander), and Moatassem-Billah (who became a Libyan Army officer and National Security Advisor).
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Muammar Gaddafi's son: Saif al-Islam Muammar
- Saif al-Islam Muammar is yet another son of Gaddafi. He worked alongside his father.
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Muammar Gaddafi's son: Al-Saadi Gaddafi
- Another of the dictator's sons, Al-Saadi Gaddafi, went on to become a professional soccer player and captain of the national team.
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Muammar Gaddafi's daughter: Ayesha Gaddafi
- Muammar Gaddafi's only daughter became a lawyer and went on to be appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador. As of 2021, Ayesha was living in Oman.
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François "Papa Doc" Duvalier's son: Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier
- Jean-Claude Duvalier, aka "Baby Doc," followed in his father's footsteps as president of Haiti. In fact, he's regarded as being even more authoritarian than his father.
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Augusto Pinochet's son: Augusto Osvaldo Pinochet Hiriart
- The son of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet worked as a military general in his father's regime.
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Augusto Pinochet's son: Marco Antonio Pinochet
- Marco Antonio Pinochet is the youngest son of the late dictator. He was once arrested for fraud involving millions of dollars.
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Augusto Pinochet's daughters: Lucía and Jacqueline Pinochet
- Pictured are the former Chilean president's daughters, Lucía (left) and Jacqueline Pinochet (right). Lucía went on to become a local city politician. All of Pinochet's children were at one point jailed because of their connection to their father.
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Ferdinand Marcos's son: Bongbong Marcos
- The former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos had four children. One of the dictator's sons, Bongbong Marcos (far right), is the current president of the country.
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Robert Mugabe's children
- The late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe (L) is pictured with his son Robert Mugabe Jr. (center left), who became a basketball player, and his youngest son Chatunga Mugabe (right). The dictator also had another son, named Michael Nhamodzenyika Mugabe, and a daughter called Bona Mugabe.
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Pol Pot's mysterious daughters
- Pol Pot was a ruthless Cambodian ruler. He married Mea Son and had a daughter named Saloth Sitha (pictured). Pol Pot's other daughter, Sar Patchata, got married in 2014. Not much is known about them.
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Nicolae Ceaușescu's son: Nicu Ceaușescu
- Nicu Ceaușescu (right) was a Romanian politician, just like his father, communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu (left). He lived a lavish lifestyle, until his father was executed. Nicu Ceaușescu was arrested and died two years later, in 1994.
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Slobodan Milošević's son: Marko Milošević
- The son of Slobodan Milošević (former president of Serbia and president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) had to flee the country after his father was removed from power. Marko Milošević was allegedly involved with organized crime in Serbia.
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Idi Amin's son: Jaffar Amin
- Jaffar Amin is one of former Ugandan leader Idi Amin's 43 (official) children. He has always defended his father and continues to try to rehabilitate Idi Amin's image.
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Saddam Hussein's children
- The late Iraqi dictator had (at least) six children. Pictured are Saddam's daughters Hala (sitting), Rana (third left), and Raghad (center). Pictured are also his sons Uday (far right) and Qussay (second left).
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Saddam Hussein's sons: Uday and Qusay Hussein
- Saddam Hussein's sons Uday (L) and Qusay (R), who worked with their father, were killed by US troops in Mosul in 2003.
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Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo's son: Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue
- The vice president of Equatorial Guinea followed in his namesake father's footsteps. Teodoro, aka Teodorin, is know for his extravagant lifestyle, but despite the numerous charges and sanctions against him, he still remains in power.
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Mobutu Sese Seko's children
- Mobutu Sese Seko, the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had at least seven children.
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Mobutu Sese Seko's son: Nzanga Mobutu
- Pictured is one of his sons, Congolese politician Nzanga Mobutu. Sources: (History Collection) (BBC) (Reuters) See more: Dictator deaths: infamous tyrants who were executed
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Joseph Stalin's children
- The former Premier of the Soviet Union had five children: Vasily Stalin (left), Yakov Dzhugashvili, Svetlana Alliluyeva (center), Artyom Sergeyev (adopted), and an unnamed boy (presumably his first child).
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
Joseph Stalin's son: Yakov Dzhugashvili
- Officially Stalin's eldest son, Yakov Dzhugashvili fought against the Nazis. He was captured and imprisoned by the Germans, and eventually died at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1943.
© Getty Images
2 / 29 Fotos
Joseph Stalin's daughter: Svetlana Alliluyeva
- For her part, Svetlana Alliluyeva made history in 1967 when she defied all of her father's wishes and every tradition of the Soviet Union by defecting to the United States. But this was only after her father passed away in 1953.
© Getty Images
3 / 29 Fotos
Benito Mussolini's children
- Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had six children. Among them was the late jazz pianist Romano Mussolini, aircraft pilot Bruno Mussolini, film critic Vittorio Mussolini, as well as Benito Albino Mussolini and Anna Maria Mussolini.
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
Benito Mussolini daughter: Edda Mussolini
- Edda Mussolini was also one of the Duce's children. She married Count Galeazzo Ciano, who cautioned Mussolini about allying Italy with Nazi Germany. Edda's father wasn't too happy about his son-in-law's position, so he executed him for treason.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Francisco Franco's daughter: Carmen Franco y Polo
- María del Carmen Franco y Polo was the daughter of the infamous Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and his wife, Carmen Polo.
© Getty Images
6 / 29 Fotos
Francisco Franco's daughter: Carmen Franco y Polo
- In 1978, four years after her father's death, Carmen was arrested at Madrid-Barajas International Airport for trying to smuggle gold, jewelry, and medals that once belonged to the Generalissimo.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
Kim Il-sung 's son: Kim Jong-il
- The son of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung followed in his father footsteps. Kim Jong-il became the Supreme Leader of North Korea, and a ruthless one at that. His son, Kim Jong Un, continued his legacy.
© Getty Images
8 / 29 Fotos
Kim Jong Un's daughter: Kim Ju-ae
- Kim Ju-ae is the daughter of current North Korea leader Kim Jong Un. Kim Ju-ae could potentially become her father's successor.
© Getty Images
9 / 29 Fotos
Muammar Gaddafi's children
- The former Libyan leader is believed to have had at least eight children. Pictured are his sons (L-R) Saif al-Arab, Khamis (who became a military commander), and Moatassem-Billah (who became a Libyan Army officer and National Security Advisor).
© Getty Images
10 / 29 Fotos
Muammar Gaddafi's son: Saif al-Islam Muammar
- Saif al-Islam Muammar is yet another son of Gaddafi. He worked alongside his father.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Muammar Gaddafi's son: Al-Saadi Gaddafi
- Another of the dictator's sons, Al-Saadi Gaddafi, went on to become a professional soccer player and captain of the national team.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Muammar Gaddafi's daughter: Ayesha Gaddafi
- Muammar Gaddafi's only daughter became a lawyer and went on to be appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador. As of 2021, Ayesha was living in Oman.
© Getty Images
13 / 29 Fotos
François "Papa Doc" Duvalier's son: Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier
- Jean-Claude Duvalier, aka "Baby Doc," followed in his father's footsteps as president of Haiti. In fact, he's regarded as being even more authoritarian than his father.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Augusto Pinochet's son: Augusto Osvaldo Pinochet Hiriart
- The son of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet worked as a military general in his father's regime.
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Augusto Pinochet's son: Marco Antonio Pinochet
- Marco Antonio Pinochet is the youngest son of the late dictator. He was once arrested for fraud involving millions of dollars.
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
Augusto Pinochet's daughters: Lucía and Jacqueline Pinochet
- Pictured are the former Chilean president's daughters, Lucía (left) and Jacqueline Pinochet (right). Lucía went on to become a local city politician. All of Pinochet's children were at one point jailed because of their connection to their father.
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Ferdinand Marcos's son: Bongbong Marcos
- The former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos had four children. One of the dictator's sons, Bongbong Marcos (far right), is the current president of the country.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Robert Mugabe's children
- The late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe (L) is pictured with his son Robert Mugabe Jr. (center left), who became a basketball player, and his youngest son Chatunga Mugabe (right). The dictator also had another son, named Michael Nhamodzenyika Mugabe, and a daughter called Bona Mugabe.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
Pol Pot's mysterious daughters
- Pol Pot was a ruthless Cambodian ruler. He married Mea Son and had a daughter named Saloth Sitha (pictured). Pol Pot's other daughter, Sar Patchata, got married in 2014. Not much is known about them.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Nicolae Ceaușescu's son: Nicu Ceaușescu
- Nicu Ceaușescu (right) was a Romanian politician, just like his father, communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu (left). He lived a lavish lifestyle, until his father was executed. Nicu Ceaușescu was arrested and died two years later, in 1994.
© Getty Images
21 / 29 Fotos
Slobodan Milošević's son: Marko Milošević
- The son of Slobodan Milošević (former president of Serbia and president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) had to flee the country after his father was removed from power. Marko Milošević was allegedly involved with organized crime in Serbia.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Idi Amin's son: Jaffar Amin
- Jaffar Amin is one of former Ugandan leader Idi Amin's 43 (official) children. He has always defended his father and continues to try to rehabilitate Idi Amin's image.
© Getty Images
23 / 29 Fotos
Saddam Hussein's children
- The late Iraqi dictator had (at least) six children. Pictured are Saddam's daughters Hala (sitting), Rana (third left), and Raghad (center). Pictured are also his sons Uday (far right) and Qussay (second left).
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
Saddam Hussein's sons: Uday and Qusay Hussein
- Saddam Hussein's sons Uday (L) and Qusay (R), who worked with their father, were killed by US troops in Mosul in 2003.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo's son: Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue
- The vice president of Equatorial Guinea followed in his namesake father's footsteps. Teodoro, aka Teodorin, is know for his extravagant lifestyle, but despite the numerous charges and sanctions against him, he still remains in power.
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Mobutu Sese Seko's children
- Mobutu Sese Seko, the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had at least seven children.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Mobutu Sese Seko's son: Nzanga Mobutu
- Pictured is one of his sons, Congolese politician Nzanga Mobutu. Sources: (History Collection) (BBC) (Reuters) See more: Dictator deaths: infamous tyrants who were executed
© Getty Images
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The lives of children raised by authoritarian rulers
How many have you heard of?
© Getty Images
History is tainted with ruthless rulers, but despite the atrocities many of these leaders committed, they also had families. Indeed, many infamous dictators, despots, and all types of authoritarian leaders had sons and daughters. Some of whom, actually, took advantage of their position and followed in their parents' footsteps. Yet several others went in completely opposite directions.
In this gallery, we bring you the children of history's most infamous dictators and their stories. Click on to find out who they are.
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