20 Most Ruthless Power Grabs in History
Ambition has driven many leaders to do whatever it takes to rise to the top. From betrayals to bloodshed, some people stopped at nothing to claim the throne or tighten their grip on power. Here are 20 of the most brutal and calculated power moves that changed history forever.
- Tricia Quitales
- 5 min read
Power doesn’t always come through peaceful means. Throughout history, ambitious rulers and opportunists have used violence, manipulation, and betrayal to seize control. These ruthless power grabs often came with heavy costs — civil wars, broken empires, and countless lives lost. Explore the most daring and merciless takeovers that reshaped nations and left lasting scars on the world.
1. Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon (49 BCE)
Nicolas Coustou on Wikimedia
Defying the Roman Senate, Caesar marched his army into Rome, a direct act of war. His bold move ended the Roman Republic and launched a civil war. He gained control but was later assassinated for it.
2. Napoleon’s Coup of 18 Brumaire (1799)
Charles François Gabriel Le Vachez / Jean Duplessis-Bertaux on Wikimedia
Napoleon overthrew the French government using military pressure and backroom deals. He replaced the ruling directory with a new regime under his control, marking the rise of a dictatorship under the guise of reform.
3. Henry VII Takes the Crown (1485)
unbekannter zeitgenössischer Maler on Wikimedia
Henry defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, ending the War of the Roses. He quickly married into the rival family to legitimize his rule, and this strategic takeover founded the powerful Tudor dynasty.
4. Stalin’s Rise to Power (1920s–30s)
Unknown author on Wikimedia
After Lenin’s death, Stalin quietly removed rivals through propaganda, exile, and execution. He outmaneuvered powerful men like Trotsky with cold calculation. His rule turned the Soviet Union into a brutal dictatorship.
5. Otto von Bismarck’s Blood and Iron Strategy (1860s)
Unknown author on Wikimedia
Bismarck united Germany not through diplomacy, but through war. He staged conflicts with Denmark, Austria, and France to strengthen Prussian power. His plan worked, but it came with bloodshed and manipulation.
6. Queen Elizabeth I’s Elimination of Rivals
Follower of Alessandro Adami on Wikimedia
Elizabeth’s rule was marked by the quiet removal of threats, including her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. She used spies and strategic arrests to protect her throne. Her reign was long, but her rise was ruthless.
7. Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution (1966–76)
Edgar Snow on Wikimedia
Mao launched the movement to eliminate opponents and reassert control. He used students to attack teachers, officials, and even his allies. It destroyed lives while giving him unchecked power.
8. Hitler’s Night of the Long Knives (1934)
Andrew Laurie Stangel Collection on Wikimedia
To secure his hold on Germany, Hitler ordered the murder of political rivals and old allies. It was a brutal purge that shocked the world. Afterward, no one dared to challenge him.
9. Catherine the Great’s Coup (1762)
14GTR on Wikimedia
Catherine overthrew her own husband, Peter III, with military support. She took the crown and became one of Russia’s longest-ruling monarchs. Her bold move changed Russian leadership forever.
10. Augustus Becomes Emperor (27 BCE)
Abraham de Bruyn on Wikimedia
After Caesar’s death, Octavian crushed rivals in a bloody power struggle. He took the name Augustus and became Rome’s first emperor. His smart use of propaganda masked a brutal consolidation of power.
11. Francisco Franco’s Spanish Civil War Takeover (1936–1939)
Unknown author on Wikimedia
Franco rose through rebellion, launching a civil war against Spain’s government. With Nazi and Fascist help, he defeated the republic. His dictatorship lasted nearly 40 years.
12. Kim Il-sung Establishes North Korea (1948)
Unknown Author on Wikimedia
Kim used Soviet backing and eliminated opposition to build a one-party state. He created a dynasty that still holds power today. His rise involved purges and complete control of the media and society.
13. King Louis XI’s Crushing of Nobility (15th Century)
Anonymous on Wikimedia
Louis reduced the power of feudal lords by spying, imprisoning, and even executing them. He expanded royal control and laid the foundation for absolute monarchy. His methods earned him the nickname “the Universal Spider.”
14. Oliver Cromwell’s Dissolution of Parliament (1653)
After Samuel Cooper on Wikimedia
Cromwell, once a champion of democracy, dismissed Parliament by force. He ruled England as Lord Protector under military control, and his rule felt more like that of a king than a republic leader.
15. Ivan the Terrible’s Oprichnina (1565–1572)
Неизвестный иконописец Царских мастерских в Москве XVI века on Wikimedia
Ivan created a secret police force to crush nobles and centralize power. He ruled through fear, torture, and mass executions. His cruelty reshaped Russia’s monarchy into a harsher form.
16. Chiang Kai-shek’s White Terror (1947–1949)
Unknown author on Wikimedia
In Taiwan, Chiang launched a violent crackdown on dissent. Thousands were arrested or killed to silence the opposition. The event helped him stay in power during a fragile time.
17. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s Rise in Turkey (1920s)
Original photographer unknown on Wikimedia
Atatürk dismantled the Ottoman system to form a secular republic. He banned religious influence and reshaped the entire legal system. His changes were sweeping and swift, leaving no room for opposition.
18. Fulgencio Batista’s Cuban Coup (1952)
Harris & Ewing, photographer on Wikimedia
Batista overthrew the elected Cuban government just before the elections. He canceled the vote and took power by force. His dictatorship sparked unrest, leading to the Cuban Revolution.
19. Robert Mugabe’s Grip on Zimbabwe (1980s–2000s)
Koen Suyk / Anefo on Wikimedia
Mugabe used fear, election fraud, and violence to stay in charge. His opponents were harassed or disappeared. What started as liberation turned into decades of authoritarian rule.
20. Mobutu Sese Seko’s Rule in Congo (1965–1997)
Agence Zaire Presse on Wikimedia
Mobutu seized power through a military coup, then created a cult of personality. He stole billions while silencing critics. His rule drained the country and left it in chaos after his fall.