The ABSOLUTELY WORST King in History Award Goes To...

[kidd]

So while ineffectual as a king, Louis XVI probably wasn't the worst in history. I can think of a few ancient Roman emperors (Nero, Caligula, Elagabus) who were worse.

I watch a historical documentary that postulates that Nero was a victim of political slander. He's not really as bad as history made him out to be.

[Linda]

Vlad couldn't be considered a bad king, don't know about worst-es, but he was used as the image of Dracula. He liked war and liked to kill and torture.

Bad King John, brother or Richard (most will remember him as being Prince John in Robbin Hood), i don't think he was the worst but he was just so unlikable and immoral that the toilet was known as "John" from then on.

I believed he betrayed his father, whom had always favored him above Richard, in an attempt to overthrow him, which resulted in the old kings death (apparently from the sadness of being betrayed by his favorite son) and Richard crushing his side to become king.

I think what made John worst in my books was because he wasn't just a bad king, he was a bad person and a bad son, and was also untalented and a coward.

[Banh Mi]

Vlad couldn't be considered a bad king, don't know about worst-es, but he was used as the image of Dracula. He liked war and liked to kill and torture.

Bad King John, brother or Richard (most will remember him as being Prince John in Robbin Hood), i don't think he was the worst but he was just so unlikable and immoral that the toilet was known as "John" from then on.

I believed he betrayed his father, whom had always favored him above Richard, in an attempt to overthrow him, which resulted in the old kings death (apparently from the sadness of being betrayed by his favorite son) and Richard crushing his side to become king.

I think what made John worst in my books was because he wasn't just a bad king, he was a bad person and a bad son, and was also untalented and a coward.

Cmon, Vlad the Impaler was an awesome ruler. Just look at his name. The Impaler. No one kept a more honest city than he did. He is also said to be fair to his people and intolerant of bullshit.

[pannonian]

Vlad couldn't be considered a bad king, don't know about worst-es, but he was used as the image of Dracula. He liked war and liked to kill and torture.

Bad King John, brother or Richard (most will remember him as being Prince John in Robbin Hood), i don't think he was the worst but he was just so unlikable and immoral that the toilet was known as "John" from then on.

I believed he betrayed his father, whom had always favored him above Richard, in an attempt to overthrow him, which resulted in the old kings death (apparently from the sadness of being betrayed by his favorite son) and Richard crushing his side to become king.

I think what made John worst in my books was because he wasn't just a bad king, he was a bad person and a bad son, and was also untalented and a coward.

All of his legitimate sons, from Richard to his favourite John, betrayed Henry II, egged on by their mother Eleanor. The Lion In Winter portrays the relationships between Henry II (the eponymous lion) and his sons. As their father weakened with age and weariness, Richard allied with John to bring him down. When he died in France, accompanied only by an illegitimate son, Henry said that "they (young Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, John) were the real bastards".

Henry II, unlike Richard and John, is one of the great kings of England, virtually founding the English state as we know it today. It's a travesty that he's usually only known for the murder of Thomas Becket.

[Linda]

i thought he died during the time john rose and richard was away?

forgive me for my bad memory, i don't remember much about it.

anyhow, would a bad king/ruler be considered bad based on ho whe treated his people and how he treated the people from other countrys?

if say a king was great to his people but was mean to everyone else, would he be a great king?

just trying to understand what attributes to 'the absolutely worst' kin in history, he has to be bad to everyone?

[Banh Mi]

I believe a good king is one who takes care of his own people. Why should other people have any bearing on him. Hell, if he enslaved other people for the benefit of his own, that's even better.

[pemberly]

how Machiavellian.

[Guo Xiang]

I believe a good king is one who takes care of his own people. Why should other people have any bearing on him. Hell, if he enslaved other people for the benefit of his own, that's even better.

I see a supporter of slavery and other possible ugly deeds...

[Banh Mi]

What's that got to to with the thread? I don't support slavery but I could understand why a conquerer finds it useful.