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Question: People in history who have been so obsessed with power that it caused their downfall!?
I'm writing an essay on how extreme ambition for power can lead to a person's downfall!. I need some examples of this happening in history!. Any ideas!? Just names and a really brief explanation are good, i can look them up!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I think a really excellent example is Ch'in Shih-huang, the first emperor of China!. When he achieved unification he was actually pretty well liked by his own people, though those he had conquered didn't like him very well!. His quest to centralize the government even further and attempts to ensure that China would stay unified eventually turned the people against him!. also has he grew older he began to worry about dying and sought eternal life!. The elixirs and pills he took contained mercury which poisoned him and drove him mad, later possibly killing him!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hitler!.
Very briefly he was obsessed with running as much as possible and being the ultimate decision maker!. He often ignored sound advise from various other generals and made stupid decisions that lead to his downfall!. Eg- operation barbarossa and when Berlin was falling to Russia!.!.!.many other things!.
However he also ignored advise and made very "good" decisions!. Was falling apart during the end of the war though!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Henry VIII of England!.
Hitler!.
Idi Amin Dada (Ugandan Dictator/President in the '70's)
Saddam Hussein!.

The list is actually huge!.

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napoleonWww@QuestionHome@Com