man on horseback

Etymology: after the Man on Horseback, nickname of Georges E. J. M. Boulanger died 1891 French chauvinistic general and demagogue; from his frequent appearance before the Paris crowds mounted on a black horse

1. : a man typically a military figure whose ambitions, personal popularity, and pretensions to be destined to save the nation or lead it to greatness mark him as a potential dictator

endangered by men on horseback or rabble-rousers — Telford Taylor

used to advantage by the first rascally man on horseback who comes along — New Yorker

2. : dictator, caudillo; especially : a military dictator

the man on horseback … comes to power by way of a coup, usually with army support — Bruce Bliven b. 1889

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1. a military leader who presents himself as the savior of the country during a period of crisis and either assumes or threatens to assume dictatorial powers.

2. any dictator.

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man on horseback,

a military leader whose influence over the people threatens the government.