I suspect they all had good intentions on some level, although they probably thought they were justified in getting personal perks for their great work.
I'd say that being the absolute ruler of a country, subject to practically fanatical hero worship, is enough to qualify one as a "lord" even if it's a pretty lousy country and you do a crap job of running it. It's not as if any of them were particularly competent.
As for "padding," there are plenty of other examples I could have used, but I didn't expect as many readers to recognize, say, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
I didn't expect as many readers to recognize, say, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (or to be willing to Google him).
FTFY. :-)
Here's the new thread for posting quotes, with the usual rules: