Crossword Genius

Cruel king, but a hero to many (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

herod

'cruel king' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a hero to many' is the wordplay.
'to many' becomes 'D' (Roman numeral for 500).
'hero'+'d'='HEROD'

'but' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for herod that I've seen before include "New Testament king" , "Infanticidal king" , "Ruler of Palestine when Jesus was born" , "King of Judea in the time of Jesus" , "Christ was born in the reign of . . . . . the Great (5)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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