Do you know a CAUDILLO?

CAUDILLO = a Spanish or Latin American dictator

A caudillo is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise English translation for the term, though it is often used interchangeably with "military dictator," "warlord" and "strongman". --Wikipedia

"During the turbulent years following the nation's independence, the region fell under the control of a powerful caudillo who consolidated authority through military force and charismatic leadership. While his supporters praised him as a defender of the people and a unifying figure, critics argued that his authoritarian rule stifled democratic progress and concentrated power in the hands of a single individual. The legacy of his reign left a deep imprint on the country’s political culture, shaping its struggles with centralized authority for decades to come." --Chat GPT 

Borrowed from Spanish, "leader, chief" (medieval Spanish cabdiello), going back to Vulgar Latin *capitellus "leader."