Who's the Baddest? Quiz | Mixed People

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Soon after becoming the all-important Roman Emperor, I embarked upon a sex and alcohol binge. I discreetly called it a 'sickness'. Once I was cured, I really got down to business. I executed all of my dearest friends, kicked my wife to the curb, and compelled my father-in-law to kill himself. I was so bad that people were constantly trying to murder me, and eventually someone succeeded. Who am I?

Answer: Caligula

Caligula was the Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. During that short period of time, Caligula managed to disgust contemporaries, who have left behind a scathing recollection of his reign. In addition to his above excesses, Caligula also adopted the role of divinity.

He associated himself with the Roman gods and intimated his own sacredness. Due to his erratic and harmful behavior, he was murdered by an officer of the Praetorian Guard, Cassius Chaerea. (Barrett, "Caligula: The Corruption of Power", 1989).

2. I became the emperor of my people while still a teenager. The only problem was that my mother kept meddling in my affairs. So, I did what any self-respecting dictator would do: I arranged her murder. Later, I beat my wife to death, but she really had it coming. If you don't think all of that makes me the baddest, please carefully listen to my next five words: "I fiddled while Rome burned". Enough said. Who am I?

Answer: Nero

Nero was the Roman Emperor from 54 AD to 68 AD. Interestingly, he was a kinsman of Caligula (another infamous ruler of the Roman empire). Nero advanced to become sole ruler of the empire while in his early teens, and his rash acts thereafter suggest a lack of maturity. Nero was in constant conflict with his dominating mother Agrippina, and these clashes eventually led to matricide.

The most famous story regarding Nero, however, relates how he fiddled while Rome was engulfed in flames. The authenticity of the tales about Nero's life is difficult to ascertain, but in the end he was indeed unpopular, and was driven to commit suicide. (Champlin, E., "Nero", 2003).

3. If nicknames count for anything, mine should earn me top marks: I was called the Scourge of God. In the beginning, I ruled the Hunnic tribes with my brother Bleda, but he died mysteriously, leaving me with complete authority. I took pleasure in ravaging the Roman Empire whenever I had the chance, and in return, the Romans kept buying peace. People said I was the most inhuman barbarian that had ever lived, and I certainly took that as a compliment! Who am I?

Answer: Attila the Hun

Attila the Hun reigned as king of the Huns from 434 AD to 453 AD. Attila originally shared kingship of the Huns with his brother Bleda. It was rumored that he was responsible for Bleda's murder, though there is little evidence to support the claim. Attila's career was dominated by the fierce military campaigns he undertook, and he gained the reputation of being a terrifying foe.

While his life epitomized the "ideal" of a barbarian ruler, his death was less illustrious. Two conflicting stories recount his death.

In one, he apparently died of a nosebleed on his wedding night. The other relates that his wife, Gudrun, stabbed him to death. Either way, he has found a permanent place in history. (Thompson, "The Huns", 1999).

4. I loved blood--the smell, look, and feel of it. And what better way to indulge my passion than to kill as many people as possible? I killed entire families, which included my friends and enemies alike. I also tried to convert all of the Jews in Byzantium to Christianity. The people hated me so much that they let the enemy dice my body up into dozens of pieces. I'd say that makes me pretty darn bad. Who am I?

Answer: Phocas

Phocas was the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 602-610 AD. He started his career as a soldier in Emperor Maurice's army. Discontent, he rebelled against his patron and plotted his overthrow and murder. Once Phocas became ruler in his own right, he slowly began to show signs of the tyrannies that were to come.

Insecure, he killed many officials and high-ranking men for supposed disloyalty. According to historians writing after Phocas' reign, he began to lose control of his empire as he madly murdered men, women, and children. Eventually, his own people sold him out to Heraclius of Africa.

Heraclius chopped off various body parts and made a public spectacle of his corpse. (Ostrogorski, "History of the Byzantine State", 1986).

5. When you think of pillaging, raping Vikings, think of me. I couldn't wait to rule the Danes, so I ran my own father out of his kingdom. Once the old man was gone, I controlled Denmark. That wasn't enough, so I set my sights on England. Almost every year I took a little "English vacation", during which my main activities were burning the land and looting churches. The English were so sick of paying me to leave that they finally accepted me as their king. Who am I?

Answer: Sweyn Forkbeard

Sweyn Forkbeard was the King of Denmark from 986 AD-1014 AD, and he also briefly ruled Norway and England. Much of Forkbeard's early life is shrouded in mystery. Some historical versions state that he was raised by members of the (mythical) Jomsvikings, while others allege that he drove his father from Denmark and wrested the kingdom for himself. Anglo-Saxon monks bemoan him as almost sub-human in his unquenchable thirst for English wealth.

He raided England off and on from at least 1002 AD until he drove the people to submission in 1013 AD.

His conquest was short-lived, though, for he died very soon after victory. His son, Canute the Mighty, proved to be a more able ruler, though he never gained the same reputation of ferocity.

6. The fact that I became a vicious warlord is nothing to be surprised about. Think about it: I was betrothed when I was nine years old, my father was murdered, and I had to live as a penniless cur for many years. Wouldn't that drive any man mad? Well, it made me pretty mean. I killed my own brother, created the most blood-thirsty army in Mongolian history, and arranged horrific deaths for all of my enemies. Man, those were the days! Who am I?

Answer: Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan was the ruler of the Mongols from 1206-1227 AD. Born Temuchin, Khan's early life was erratic. He grew up knowing that his father had been murdered, and that his own life was in jeopardy. He rose above these obstacles, however, and consolidated his power by recruiting and maintaining a large group of followers.

He was able to unite the Mongols, and eventually came to be their absolute ruler. Not satisfied with just his own land, he set out to conquer and subdue other territories.

By the time of his death, he had "established the largest contiguous empire in history".

7. Due to my slightly lame leg, people got the notion that they could mock me. Well, I showed them. While other Asian conquerors enjoyed governing defeated people, I preferred to just rob them blind and leave them in ruin. Pretty nasty, don't you think? Sometimes I would be thoughtful and gift my new subjects with elaborate structures--created out of the skulls of their dead kinfolk. I'm pretty sure this makes me the baddest of all. Who am I?

Answer: Tamerlane

Tamerlane was a Turkish conqueror who ruled from 1370-1405 AD. His Persian name was Timur, and there are other variants of his name. During his busy life, he was able to bring the Mongol Empire back to its former glory. He claimed to be a descendant of Genghis Khan. Tamerlane was considered to be a magnificent military leader, but he lacked the skills to govern.

His conquests yielded him riches, but left his new territories devastated.

8. I was so bad that everyone around me thought I was insane. I often forgot who people were--including my wife and even myself. I told everyone that I was made completely out of glass. It was fun to see their expressions! I refused to bathe and became a breeding ground for lice. Best of all, I enjoyed killing people for no reason, and with little recollection afterward. My crowning glory? Allowing a civil war to flourish in France. Who am I?

Answer: Charles VI the Mad

Charles VI was King of France from 1380-1422 AD. He became monarch when he was only eleven years old. He began his reign as a beloved minor, but people soon grew disillusioned by his erratic behavior. He was known for becoming hysterical over supposed insults, and would injure anyone who interfered in his mania.

He killed several courtiers for suspect reasons. His contemporaries began to realize that he suffered from some type of mental malady. His physicians tried many cures, but none worked.

A civil war ensued between the dukes of Orl�ans and Burgundy during his rule. Charles ended his reign in complete ignominy.

9. Compared to me, other tyrants look like saints. I really, truly enjoyed killing and torturing people. Many times I killed people by having stakes driven through their bodies. I liked to be creative, and would sometimes arrange their pierced bodies in shocking positions. I also liked death by dismemberment, burning alive, and suffocation. Although I killed capriciously, I demanded complete loyalty, honesty, and chastity from my subjects. Who am I?

Answer: Vlad the Impaler

Vlad III was Prince of Wallachia three separate times: 1448, 1456-1462, and 1476. As a young boy, his father gave him to a Turkish sultan as a "surety" of loyalty. After the death of his father, Vlad briefly became the ruler of his people. Surrounded by enemies and disloyal retainers, Vlad lost and later regained hold of his crown. During his second reign, Vlad began practicing his atrocities.

He tortured and killed enemies, traitors, lawbreakers, and anyone who crossed him. His methods of execution were shockingly gruesome, and included impalement through various orifices, burning, scalping, and mutilation.

He also became embroiled in the feuds between Hungary and Turkey, allying himself with the former. Alas, his "friendship" with the Hungarians did not last long, and he found himself dethroned and put into prison by his former allies.

He was eventually restored to his former honors and returned to Wallachia. He died in 1476, most likely murdered by a member of the Ottoman military.

10. I was the worst Russian ruler ever. I boiled people alive, froze them to death, and fed them to ravenous beasts. Even my family was not immune. When my daughter-in-law dressed like a tramp, I whipped her so badly that she lost her unborn baby. My son tried to intervene and I ended up killing him too (a mistake, I admit). I died during a chess game, but I suspect I was really poisoned by my friend for trying to rape his sister. Who am I?

Answer: Ivan the Terrible

Ivan IV was the Tsar of Russia from 1533-1584 AD. Ivan's true personality is much disputed, and it is clear that his harsh acts were often offset by his sometimes keen mind and otherwise pious behavior. He became Tsar upon his father's death. Initially, he enjoyed a triumphant reign.

His later years, however, found him in constant turmoil due to the Livonian War, as well as attacks by Devlet I Giray of Crimea. As he aged, his behavior became more bizarre, and his acts of violence became well-known throughout Russia.

He died mysteriously, some believing that he was poisoned by the future Tsar Boris Godunov for trying to rape Godunov's sister.

Source: Author Pagiedamon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Who's the Baddest? Trivia Quiz

These ancient tyrants would like to tell you why they are the worst of the worst. You must figure out who's who, and then decide which one is the biggest baddie of all.

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