Without meaning to start a flamewar, I'd give a shout to Napoleon. Took over when France was in chaos, and turned it into a wealthy powerhouse, spread Enlighten

Without meaning to start a flamewar, I'd give a shout to Napoleon. Took over when France was in chaos, and turned it into a wealthy powerhouse, spread Enlightenment values, built incredible cultural treasurehouses. He was a great general and administrator and leader. Yes, some of the family members he appointed to run parts of the empire weren't great, nor were his successors. And yes, invading Russia was a mistake. But still seems a good example of "rolling the dictator dice". (Relevant disclosure: I'm not French.)