Who Is The Most Reviled Person in Your Country's History?

[Liep]

The referee in Spain-Korea's QF game in WC 2002.

Really, that's about the only figure you could get a semblance of national consensus around. In this country half the nation's villain is the other half's national hero.

I think that's the only game I remember from that WC.

[The Larch]

The referee in Spain-Korea's QF game in WC 2002.

Him or Tassotti.

Really, that's about the only figure you could get a semblance of national consensus around. In this country half the nation's villain is the other half's national hero.

Maybe Fernando VII. 

[celedhring]

Fernando VII would be my pick, but I don't get the feeling he's a big figure in the minds of most of our compatriots.

[Delirium]

A good candidate is Gustav IV Adolf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_IV_Adolf_of_Sweden

200+ years after the fact he is still the scapegoat for why Finland was lost to the Russkies.

[celedhring]

Took the question to the Spanish Paradox Forum and Fernando VII seems to be winning in a landslide. That's a more educated audience than your average Spaniard, though.

[Oexmelin]

Amherst has made a comeback as most reviled, as the smallpox blankets episode is slowly trickling into historical imagination.

I am sure someone like Parizeau or Lévesque would count in English Canada.

[Josquius]

I've left it to Tyr to name Thatcher. 

Even thinking neutrally it is clearly so.
Memory doesn't go back more than a few decades and she still looms heavy.

[grumbler]

Tom Brady

[HVC]

Tom Brady

never before has a man and his balls wounded his nation to such a degree.

[Maladict]

Tough one.
It could be Mussert, leader of the collaborators during the war, but he's more ridiculed than reviled nowadays.

If foreigners count then I guess either Seyss-Inquart, the Duke of Alva or maybe Balthasar Gerard.

[Malthus]

Amherst has made a comeback as most reviled, as the smallpox blankets episode is slowly trickling into historical imagination.

I am sure someone like Parizeau or Lévesque would count in English Canada.

I am sure they would not. 

After Homolka, I'd go with ex-Colonel Russell Williams: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Williams_(colonel)

[Berkut]

Joe Paterno

[grumbler]

Joe Paterno

More than 100,000 people just attended a ceremony honoring him.

[Agelastus]

For longevity it would have to be King John. He'll still be up there when people like Blair and Thatcher are long forgotten.

Not Richard III?

Robin Hood legends trump Shakespeare's play.

[Malthus]

For longevity it would have to be King John. He'll still be up there when people like Blair and Thatcher are long forgotten.

Not Richard III?

Robin Hood legends trump Shakespeare's play.

Also "Richardians". There is no such thing as "John-ians".  Even revisionists more or less agree he was a jerk.