It sound apologetic to me to write their jerkiness to stress and high responsibility of leadership.

> Name one famous historical figure who had power of some sort who didn't do anything "jerk-like".

Since the list are of kings, I namedrop Marcus Aurelius.

Add power and stress to unchecked emotional and psychological deficiencies of the susceptible person of power strong enough to derail their sense of ethics and morality and one comes face to face with a war criminal, a psychopath dictator, or a jerky maverick CEO.

Increase or decrease elements to get Caligula or Steve Jobs.