Vladimir Putin and the rise of the powerful 'short kings'

Critics suggest Russian president has 'Napoleon complex' but several other top world leaders share his stature

Vladimir Putin illustration
The idea that height is bound up in leadership and masculinity is 'looking increasingly shaky'
(Image credit: Illustrated/Getty Images)

Like Napoleon, Vladimir Putin may have designs to take over Europe, but this is not the only similarity he shares with the diminutive dictator.

Accusations that Putin suffers from a "Napoleon complex" – acting aggressively in an attempt to compensate for his physical stature – might be "overly simplistic and potentially problematic", psychologist Emma Kenny told The Sun. Yet it is true that "height can play into how a leader is perceived, especially when they're interacting with taller counterparts on the international stage".

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Hollie Clemence is the UK executive editor. She joined the team in 2011 and spent six years as news editor for the site, during which time the country had three general elections, a Brexit referendum, a Covid pandemic and a new generation of British royals. Before that, she was a reporter for IHS Jane’s Police Review, and travelled the country interviewing police chiefs, politicians and rank-and-file officers, occasionally from the back of a helicopter or police van. She has a master’s in magazine journalism from City University, London, and has written for publications and websites including TheTimes.co.uk and Police Oracle.