Delve into the history of the most brutal rulers the world has known. While figures like Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini readily come to mind, brutality in leadership has existed long before the 1930s. Discover why figures such as Attila the Hun and Empress Wu, despite their harsh reigns, may not be the most villainous rulers in history. How were their actions perceived by their contemporaries, and what factors influenced these perceptions?