Different type of list - Top historical betrayals

[CaptainCrunch]

I've enjoyed doing the entertainment based links and they're a lot of fun, but what I'm really passionate about history, and the odder things about history. So I thought i would try a history based list on occasion.

So maybe once a week I'll pop a new list up for discussion.

So for my first list, since we all love the villains, here are some of the greatest historical betrayals.

1) Brutus stabs Caesar - This had to be one of the most shocking betrayals of all times, because of its savagery and the fact that Brutus loved Caesar and was one of his closest friends and confidants. So why did he participate in the stabbing of Caesar 23 times with other disgruntled Roman Senators. Because of power. The Roman Senate feared what Caesar was becoming, he was on the path to becoming a pure Dictator and the Senate feared that he would dis-assemble the Republic and replace it with a Monarchy with Caesar as its absolute ruler. Brutus loved Caesar but he loved the Republic more so it was easy for the other Senators to convince him to murder his friend. The famous line "Et Tu Brutus" from Shakespeare was probably never uttered because well you know, 23 stab wounds.

Ironically betrayal was a bit of a family business as Brutus had an ancestor also named Brutus who betrayed the Roman Monarchy in 509 BC.

2) The Gunpowder Conspirators - Guy Fawkes was notorious for his betrayal of the English Monarchy. Spurred into action by the prosecution of Catholics by Elizabeth I and James I. Fawkes decided with the help of other conspirators to blow up the British Parliament in 1605. Fawkes and his fellow co-conspirators planted 36 barrels of gunpowder in the basement of the Parliament, but some of the co-conspirators had second thoughts due to the expected casualties including innocent Catholics. One of the Conspirators wrote a letter to Lord Monteagle to avoid going to Parliament on November 5th and Fawkes was captured as the traitor was betrayed. Fawkes was sentenced to be first hung, and then drawn and quartered but managed to jump to his death before the Sentence was carried out.

3) Tokyo Rose - There were many Tokyo Roses that worked with the Japanese propaganda arm during WW2, but the one that is most remembered was Iva Tuguri who was a Las Angeles native who was trapped in Japan during WW2, she became the Voice of Imperial Japan. At the end of the war she was imprisoned and released in 1956, she received a full pardon in 1976

4) Ethel and Julius Rosenberg - A effective spy couple for the Soviets during the Cold War they couriered secret documents about the American Nuclear Weapons project and Military projects while Julius built a spy ring by recruiting sympathetic communists. In the end they were arrested and tried for treason, Both were executed by the Electric Chair. During their Trial they used the 5th Amendment but it doomed Ethel and years later her brother in law admitted to lying to protect his wife. While Ethel might not have been a master spy, Julius was.

5) Benedict Arnold - Arnold was a General for the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and by all accounts an effective one leading American Forces to multiple victories. Frustrated by continued accusations of corruption and incompetents by rivals who tried to claim credit for his successes, as well as America's refusal to sign a agreement with Britain involving the granting of Self Governance of the Colonies. Arnold decided to change sides, he was given command of West Point and decided to surrender it to the British, but his plot was found out and he fled and was given a Commission as a Brigadier General in the British Army.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Judas?

[CaptainCrunch]

I was going to put Judas in, but I was hesitant because of the ability to verify it as a real event or even a person because of its biblical links to Jesus Christ.

[Bigtime]

Operation Barbarossa in WWII, Hitler's betrayal of his pact with Stalin.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I was going to put Judas in, but I was hesitant because of the ability to verify it as a real event or even a person because of its biblical links to Jesus Christ.

Putting aside the veracity of the account and just looking at its impact on western civilization though, it is definitely near the top- Judas is synonymous with betrayal (or something very bad at least)- even to those not that familiar with the New Testament.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Operation Barbarossa in WWII, Hitler's betrayal of his pact with Stalin.

World War II in total, Hitler's betrayal of Neville Chamerlain.

[Fuzz]

Lando betraying Han in Cloud City.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

World War II in total, Hitler's betrayal of Neville Chamerlain.

He didnt really 'betray' Chamberlain, he played him like a Fiddle.

I think looking back historically it seems pretty clear that Hitler never had any intention of ever honoring that agreement.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

He didnt really 'betray' Chamberlain, he played him like a Fiddle.

I think looking back historically it seems pretty clear that Hitler never had any intention of ever honoring that agreement.

Just like his dealings with Stalin.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Just like his dealings with Stalin.

At least Stalin had the intelligence to understand that Hitler was going to double-cross him and basically signed that agreement to buy time to get prepared.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

At least Stalin had the intelligence to understand that Hitler was going to double-cross him and basically signed that agreement to buy time to get prepared.

That army ain't purge itself.

[Wormius]

Not sure if a mutiny would count as a betrayal in the current context, but if so then obviously Fletcher Christian rebelling against Capt. Bligh.

[Manhattanboy]

Lucien Bouchard turning on was it Mulroney?

[manwiches]

Montreal Screw Job.

[CliffFletcher]

The Defection of the Samians at the Battle of Lede. The Ionian Greeks revolt against the Persian Empire, which was always a recklessly courageous thing to do. But at least they could muster a superior fleet if they stuck together. So in the middle of the big naval showdown, the Samians abandon the Ionian battle line, and leave their fellow Greeks to be overwhelmed by the Persian fleet. Miletus - the greatest city by far in the Hellenic world at the time - is sacked, its population enslaved, and Ionia goes back under the Persian thumb.

The Munich Agreement. The Western allies encourage democracy in Czechoslovakia, and pledge to defend it with formal defence agreements. Hitler rattles his sabres, the British and French dread a rematch of the Great War, and they sell the Czechs up the river.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Lando betraying Han in Cloud City.

1999: Lucas betrays Star Wars fans.

[troutman]

Paul Westerberg kicking Bob Stinson out of the Replacements - a band started by Bob.

https://www.spin.com/2013/06/hold-my...iew-june-1993/

Bob was playing on the stage at the Entry when the Replacements were doing five nights in a row. It turned out to be Bob’s last gig with the band. “Paul came over with a bottle of champagne,” Carleen says, “and he said to Bob, and I’ll never forget this, he said, ‘Either take a drink, mother####er, or get off my stage.’ It was the first time I’d seen Bob cry. He came home that night in tears, he didn’t know what to do. He’d been completely dry for the 30-day program and the three weeks following. But after that night, Bob felt that no one liked him unless he was drunk.”

Two weeks later, on a Saturday morning, Bob was sweeping up the First Avenue disco, where he worked to make extra money. Westerberg, very drunk, called up and explained that he’d been getting lectured for months by record executives in New York who’d indicated that they were fed up with Bob’s behavior. “I don’t think I can play with you anymore,” Westerberg finally blurted. Bob murmured okay and hung up.

“After that, Bob started drinking again, and he’s been drinking ever since, like he has some major death wish,” says Carleen.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by manwiches

Montreal Tampa Bay Screw Job.

I think you meant....

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by nik-

1999: Lucas betrays Star Wars fans.

Nice. Jar Jar's betrayal at the Senate(even though he didn't know he was betraying them) is also a good one.

[Locke]

Laserdisc.

Promises were made Laserdisc.....promises were made!