Born in the thick of winter between December 22nd to January 19th, these twisted souls brought death, chaos, and violence to millions during their reigns of terror. Mao, Amin, and Capone, despite being born under the same zodiac, couldn’t have been more different in their methods and madness. Yet they shared a common trait of ruthless ambition and moral depravity that still shocks us today.
Evil comes in all forms, even in the stars, it seems! Here are the three most evil Capricorns in history.
Mao Zedong: The Capricorn Behind China’s Great Leap Forward And Cultural Revolution
Born on December 26, 1893, Mao Zedong was a Capricorn responsible for catastrophic policies that caused millions of deaths in China. As Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao initiated the Great Leap Forward between 1958 to 1962. This push for rapid industrialization and collectivization resulted in economic collapse and famine across China. An estimated 45 million people died from starvation or overwork.
If that wasn’t evil enough, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976. He mobilized China’s youth to violently overthrow political rivals and intellectuals. Schools and universities were closed for years. Priceless cultural artifacts were destroyed. An estimated 1 to 20 million people were persecuted or killed.
Mao ruled China for over 25 years with an iron fist. His authoritarian control and cruel policies aimed at rapid societal change led to tremendous suffering and loss of life. Yet, he still has supporters who view him as a great revolutionary leader. For most historians, though, Mao stands out as one of the most sinister Capricorns – and dictators – of the 20th century. His catastrophic policies and violent purges scarred China for generations.
Idi Amin: The Vicious Capricorn Dictator of Uganda
Idi Amin was born on January 17, 1925, and ruled Uganda with an iron fist from 1971 to 1979. This vicious dictator was responsible for the deaths of 300,000 of his own people during his reign of terror.
Amin seized power in a military coup and wasted no time consolidating his control over Uganda. He expelled the country’s Asian minority and redistributed their businesses and properties to his cronies. Thousands of Ugandans were tortured and killed for opposing Amin’s repressive policies or for their tribal affiliations.
The erratic and brutal Amin cultivated a buffoonish public image to disguise his cruelty, but there was nothing funny about his human rights abuses and outright atrocities. His secret police conducted arbitrary arrests, and victims were beaten, dismembered, or fed to crocodiles.
In the late 1970s, Amin launched an ill-advised war against Tanzania that led to the collapse of his regime. He fled into exile, leaving Uganda’s economy and society in ruins. This vicious tyrant serves as a chilling example of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Decades after his reign ended, Amin remains notorious as one of the 20th century’s most sadistic dictators. His bloody legacy lives on as a sobering reminder of humankind’s capacity for evil. For Ugandans and Capricorns alike, Idi Amin was a villain like no other.
Al Capone: The Notorious Capricorn Gangster of Chicago
Al Capone, born January 17, 1899, was one of the most infamous gangsters of the Prohibition era. As the boss of Chicago’s criminal underworld during the 1920s, Capone was responsible for illegal gambling, prostitution, and bootlegging rackets that brought in millions each year.
Capone was a cunning businessman who built a large criminal empire. He expanded the illegal liquor trade, smuggling whiskey and other spirits into Chicago during Prohibition. Capone’s mob also took control of gambling and prostitution in the city, bribing police and politicians to look the other way. At the height of his power, Capone’s operations employed over 1,000 people and earned over $100 million a year (equivalent to $1.5 billion today).
To maintain control, Capone ruled through violence and intimidation. His gang was involved in hundreds of murders during the 1920s, including the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929. Capone’s thugs dressed as police officers and gunned down seven members of a rival gang. Acts of violence like these allowed Capone to dominate criminal rackets in Chicago for most of the decade.
Back in 1931, Al Capone was finally brought down. After years of the feds trying to nail him for his illegal activities, they ended up convicting him on tax evasion charges instead. His criminal empire began to crumble soon after. Capone was eventually released in 1939 but spent his remaining years suffering from neurosyphilis. He died in 1947 at the age of 48.
Although Capone lived most of his life as a heartless criminal, his rise and fall have enduring legendary status in American history. His flashy style and defiance of Prohibition-era laws made him a prominent figure of the Roaring Twenties. Decades later, Al Capone remains an infamous symbol of organized crime in 20th-century America.
