Three Lesser-Known Dictators Who Probably Didn’t Get Invited to the Tyrant Club

When you think of dictators, the usual suspects—Hitler, Stalin, Mao—steal the spotlight, twirling their mustaches (or not) and hogging all the infamy. But what about the underdogs of despotism? The guys who didn’t quite make the A-list of authoritarianism but still managed to ruin a few lives with their own brand of megalomaniacal flair? Thanks to a delightfully obscure YouTube video (shoutout to Top 10 Lesser-Known Dictators), we’re diving into three lesser-known tyrants who deserve a sarcastic slow clap for their efforts. Buckle up for a wild ride through the B-grade dictatorship.

1. Enver Hoxha: Albania’s Paranoid Bunker King

First up, meet Enver Hoxha, the guy who turned Albania into a fortress of fear and concrete. Ruling from 1944 to 1985, Hoxha was the dictator equivalent of that friend who cancels plans because “someone’s probably out to get me.” His paranoia was legendary—he built 750,000 bunkers across Albania, one for every four citizens, because apparently, you can never have too many places to hide from imaginary invaders. That’s right, while other leaders were busy with propaganda posters or fancy palaces, Hoxha was like, “Nah, let’s make sure every sheep and grandma has a bunker.”

Hoxha’s vibe was hardcore communist isolationism. He cut ties with almost everyone—first Yugoslavia, then the Soviet Union, then even China, because apparently nobody was communist enough for him. He banned religion, declared Albania the world’s first atheist state, and probably would’ve outlawed fun if he’d thought of it. Imagine being at a party and Hoxha’s there, muttering, “You call that a revolution? Pathetic.” By the time he died, Albania was so isolated it was basically the North Korea of Europe, but with worse food and more bunkers. Respect for the commitment, Enver, but maybe chill on the concrete next time.

2. François “Papa Doc” Duvalier: Haiti’s Voodoo Vibe-Check Dictator

Next, let’s jet over to Haiti, where François “Papa Doc” Duvalier ruled from 1957 to 1971 with a mix of terror, charisma, and straight-up voodoo flex. Papa Doc wasn’t content with just being a dictator—he wanted to be a mythical dictator. This guy leaned hard into Haiti’s voodoo culture, claiming he was a voodoo priest and possibly immortal. He’d dress like Baron Samedi, the voodoo spirit of death, in a top hat and sunglasses, basically cosplaying his way through tyranny. Talk about branding.

Papa Doc’s secret weapon was the Tonton Macoute, his personal militia that was part death squad, part boogeyman squad. These guys roamed Haiti, kidnapping and killing anyone who looked at Papa Doc funny. Estimates say they offed 30,000–60,000 people, which is a lot for a country smaller than Goa. He also kept the head of a rival in his office (allegedly) for “spiritual consultation.” Casual. When he died, he passed the throne to his son, “Baby Doc,” because nothing says “stable governance” like a family business of oppression. Papa Doc, you were a wild one—points for style, but maybe ease up on the severed heads.

3. Jean-Bédel Bokassa: Central African Republic’s Napoleon Knockoff

Last but definitely not least, we have Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the Central African Republic’s self-styled “Emperor” from 1966 to 1979, who took “Napoleon fanboy” to unhinged levels. Bokassa wasn’t content with being president—he declared himself Emperor Bokassa I and threw a $20 million coronation bash in 1977, complete with a gold eagle throne, a diamond-encrusted crown, and enough champagne to drown a small village. This in a country where most people were eating dirt. The guy bankrupted his nation to cosplay as Bonaparte, and nobody even RSVP’d to his party.

Bokassa’s reign was a rollercoaster of awful. He allegedly fed rivals to crocodiles, beat schoolkids to death for protesting overpriced uniforms (made by his wife’s company, naturally), and kept a fridge full of human remains for… reasons. France finally got fed up and ousted him in 1979 after he massacred 50+ schoolchildren. He fled to France, returned in 1986 like a bad sequel, and got a death sentence (later pardoned). Bokassa, you were the dictator equivalent of a toddler in a crown—zero self-control, maximum chaos.

Why These Guys Didn’t Make the Dictator Hall of Fame

So why aren’t Hoxha, Papa Doc, and Bokassa as infamous as the big-name baddies? Probably because Albania, Haiti, and the Central African Republic aren’t exactly global heavyweights, so their antics got buried in the history books. Plus, their over-the-top quirks—bunkers, voodoo, and golden thrones—make them sound more like rejected Bond villains than serious threats. Still, they prove you don’t need a massive empire to be a world-class nutcase. They brought their own bizarre flavor to the dictator game, and for that, we toss them a sarcastic party hat.

It’s a wild ride through the history of “wait, who ran that country?” So, who’s your favorite obscure tyrant? Let me know in the comments, and maybe I’ll do a sequel—Lesser-Known Dictators: The Revenge. Until then, keep your bunkers empty and your voodoo dolls in storage.

Thank You for Reading,

Hetansh Shah