- DESPOT
- Tyrant
- Caligula, e.g.
- Absolute ruler
- Robespierre, to foes
- Autocrat
- Oppressive ruler
- Forest Whitaker played one in "The Last King of Scotland"
- Dictatorial ruler
- Rigid ruler
- Ming the Merciless or Vlad the Impaler
- Ivan the Terrible, e.g.
- Ironfisted ruler
- Ironfisted one
- Inflexible ruler
- Ruler with absolute power
- Ruler with an iron fist
- Ruthless ruler
- Tyrannical ruler
- 64-Across, for one
- Hard ruler
- Emperor, e.g.
- Tough ruler
- Tsar or emperor
- 65-Across, e.g.
- Coup target
- Pharaoh, for one
- Totalitarian leader
- Oppressor
- Totalitarian ruler
- Tsar
- Dictator
- Czar
- Monocrat.
- Iron-handed ruler.
- An absolute ruler.
- One with absolute authority.
- Mogul.
- See 28 Down.
- 45 Across, for example.
- Overlord.
- Byzantine emperor.
- Ruler of a kind.
- Nero or Ivan
- Cruel dictator
- Nero or Caligula
- Caligula was one
- Idi Amin, e.g.
- Satrap
- Vlad the Impaler, e.g.
- Democrat's opponent?
- Saddam Hussein, e.g.
- Qaddafi, for one
- Papa Doc Duvalier, e.g.
- Tyrannical leader
- Kim Jong-il, e.g.
- Ruler who rules by force
- Pol Pot, e.g.
- Hard head?
- Harsh ruler
- Tyrannous type
- Ironfisted type
- Idi Amin, notably
- Saddam was one
- Banana republic head
- One with an iron fist
- Malevolent leader
