Tyrants & Dictators
In ancient Rome a dictator was an office a person was appointed to. Usually the republic had two consuls who shared power, but in time of great need, the senate could apoint a single person to take command for however long the situation demanded it.
In ancient Greece tyrant was originally the word to describe a strong man, but over time it was used for those who violently took power or abused it and gained its negative reputaion then.
