A strong ultranationalist leader in Europe has always had a strong base of support from their ethnic countrymen in other nations and from others searching for strong ethnic European leadership. The German American Bund had a lot of American support before WWII. Obviously, being a strong leader does not equal being a good leader. Freedom is never a value supported by a nationalistic fanatic except for their narrow group of adherents.
The exception to might makes right has its limits. Tyrants overreach and the pendulum swings back. Napoleon and Hitler come to mind.
You can become overconfident and lose. Its an iron law of history.