When Ego Shaped History
To put it simply, narcissism has to do with a deep need for constant admiration, an intense feeling of self-importance, and an extreme lack of empathy for other people. It's all about me, me, me to them! Does that remind you of any historical figures throughout history? We're guessing a few names instantly came to mind. Here are 20 of the biggest narcissists in history who cared only about themselves and advancing their own personal glory.
Claude Lefèbvre / Formerly attributed to Philippe de Champaigne on Wikimedia
1. Alexander The Great
Even if he wasn't the one to call himself "the Great," we're pretty sure having such a title makes it obvious he was a narcissist. Believing he had a divine lineage, backed by his undeniable military dominance and achievements, Alexander the Great cultivated an image of himself as an extraordinary man who was destined to rule and conquer.
2. Julius Caesar
Most people remember Julius Caesar in his last moments, betrayed and stabbed to death, but there's certainly more to this famous historical figure. Many historians believe that Caesar was a narcissist who needed constant admiration. He was careful to promote his victories and political importance to build his reputation, and he even put his own face on ancient Roman coins, the first to do so!
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3. Caligula
Given that historical accounts have described Caligula, the third Roman emperor, as dressing up as different gods and even replacing statues with his own face, it's safe to say he may have had narcissistic tendencies. Though it's impossible for us to walk back in time to confirm these actions in particular, many still suggest he had an overly fond and grandiose view of himself.
4. Nero
Another Roman emperor said to have been a narcissist, Nero is described to be a man obsessed with public adoration. If being remembered as emperor wasn't enough, he also wanted to be praised for his music, acting ability, and poetry. It didn't matter if he forced spectators to sit through his appearances, he just wanted the attention, fake or not.
5. Commodus
Serving as the Roman emperor between 177 to 192, Commodus definitely showed some self-obsessed tendencies. Most famously, he declared himself as Hercules, which is why there are so many statues and paintings depicting him wearing the hero's iconic lion skin. We haven't even mentioned that Commodus even renamed all twelve months of the year after himself, too.
6. Qin Shi Huang
As China's first emperor, it doesn't sound that surprising that Qin Shi Huang displayed some narcissism. After all, he built the famous terracotta army in an effort to preserve his power and status after death, directly showing that he was obsessed with his legacy. On top of that, he was terrified of dying and even tried pursuing immortality by taking toxic mercury pills.
7. Xerxes I
Xerxes I is best remembered for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC, demonstrating a clear thirst and desire to dominate and rule. And when he became king, accounts describe that he ruled with an iron fist, carrying an intense and volatile temper against anyone (or anything) that disobeyed him. It was clearly "all about him."
8. Henry VIII
If we examine Henry VIII with today's standards of narcissism, it's safe to say he fits the bill. Not only did he expect extreme loyalty from every single person around him, but when something got in his way, he would force it to fit his personal goals. For instance, when he wanted to annul his marriage and the Pope refused, he made himself the supreme head of the English church.
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9. Louis XIV
With titles like the "Sun King" and "Louis the Great," we're instantly able to see that Louis XIV was a narcissist. He made himself the center of the world, loving the life of luxury, praise, and authority he built himself. It's safe to say this king was pretty much as self-indulging as one could get.
10. Napoleon Bonaparte
Most people know Napoleon Bonaparte as a commanding military leader, an emperor, or the supposedly "short" but powerful historical figure, but turns out, he was also a narcissist. He had an insane drive to conquer, build political power, and create an exceptional legacy. Crowning himself emperor of France thanks to a coup and the popular vote was just the icing on top.
11. Ivan The Terrible
Remembered for being a brutal tyrant who used absolute submission and violence to maintain his position and power, Ivan the Terrible is often studied for being a narcissist obsessed with himself. He created a terrifying environment where loyalty to him was the only thing that mattered, even more than personal safety or tradition.
12. Maximilien Robespierre
Robespierre built a public reputation around his supposed moral purity during the French Revolution, presenting himself as a "defender of virtue" all the while supporting policies that sent political opponents to the guillotine. It's dangerous for anyone to view themselves as incorruptible, and his unwavering political ideals made him obsessed with himself.
Unidentified painter on Wikimedia
13. Adolf Hitler
There's not much we want to say about this horrible man who promoted cults that voiced he was Germany's savior. He was fully obsessed in his own terrible and disturbing beliefs, surrounding himself with yes men and obedient followers who would follow his every whim. His complete disregard for human suffering make it impossible to deny his insane level of vanity and self-absorption.
14. Benito Mussolini
Through propaganda, censorship, and extremely organized but fake displays of admiration, Benito Mussolini forcefully reshaped the nation to idealize his image. His rule was built off a highly manufactured public image of strength, intelligence, and masculinity, all feeding into his narcissistic tendencies.
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15. Joseph Stalin
Building a state-mandated personality cult that depicted him as a wise, caring, and "flawless" leader, Joseph Stalin displayed major narcissistic traits. Not only did he display many instances of a lack of empathy, but he also used torture, threats, imprisonment, and more to scare his followers into submission. All he cared was the image he faked of himself.
Unknown, presumably by a government employee as part of official duties on Wikimedia
16. Mao Zedong
Many historians claim that Mao Zedong was a narcissist, especially when observing his strong desire to cement his legacy. He put his face up everywhere throughout China, inside schools, government buildings, street signs, and more. It's even been stated that he highly encouraged Chinese citizens to study and admire his writings.
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17. Idi Amin
Just hearing that Idi Amin declared himself "president for life" in 1976 is enough to convince anyone that this man displayed high levels of narcissism. And if that wasn't enough, he claimed a number of other highly bizarre titles that all feed into this belief, the worst being: "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular."
18. Saddam Hussein
Filling Iraq with statues of himself, films about his life, murals, and more, Saddam Hussein was clearly obsessed with himself. He only cared about what he wanted, and showed a severe lack of empathy towards the suffering of other people. He certainly was unafraid to use heavy-handed propaganda to paint himself as a "father figure" of Iraq.
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19. Muammar Gaddafi
Falling in love with his fake title of "king of kings of Africa," Muammar Gaddafi cultivated his public image through lengthy speeches, unusual uniforms, and theatrical appearances. He expected everyone to follow his words with the utmost respect, and filled his head with delusions that his people loved him, no matter what he did.
Stevan Kragujević on Wikimedia
20. Saparmurat Niyazov
Let's just say, it's impossible not to call Saparmurat Niyazov, former dictator and president of Turkmenistan, a narcissist when he built a $12 million golden statue of himself that rotated to always face the sun. Not to mention, he plastered his face everywhere, even giving citizens a watch carrying his portrait. We haven't even gotten to the part where he renamed months after himself and his family, further solidfying his self-obsession.
Presidential Press and Information Office on Wikimedia
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