# Has one country's leader ever killed another?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 23, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244 "2009-09-23T15:22:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244/21 "2009-09-26T01:59:54Z")

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> [@pan1](#):
>
> There are remarkably few national leaders in history who, during their reign, held a weapon in combat.

President George Washington personally commanded 12,000 state militia troops that occupied parts of Pennsylvania to put down the [Whisky Rebellion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_Rebellion). No combat occurred, but they were prepared for it if it arose.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244/22 "2009-09-26T02:27:26Z")

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It is possible that William the Bastard was part of the crew that hacked Harold II body apart.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244/23 "2009-09-26T02:30:25Z")

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President Madison personally but briefly commanded American troops at the Battle of Bladensburg during the War of 1812, and barely escaped from British troops; the White House was burned soon afterwards. President Lincoln personally ordered U.S. warships to shell targets in the Hampton Roads area during the Civil War. Neither pulled a trigger himself while in office.

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**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244/24 "2009-09-26T09:16:41Z")

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> [@sqweels](#):
>
> But any reader of Tolkien would beg to differ. In just about every battle, the leader of one army winds up killing the leader of the other in single combat (OK, so I can’t think of a lot of examples where borth were kings).

The Witch-king of Angmar and King Eärnur of Gondor? Though no one actually witnessed that duel so it’s not certain if it actually happened.

King Theoden slaying the Haradrim king in the Battle of Pelennor Fields?

Duke Paul Atreides doing in the Baron Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in a knife duel? Despite not being kings, by our standards, both were heads of state.

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**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-one-countrys-leader-ever-killed-another/511244/25 "2009-09-26T09:38:28Z")

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Byzantine emperor Phokas was personally decapitated by Heraclius, who then took over the throne.

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