Originally posted by Penelope
I chose "other". I think that Bessus, who later became "Artaxerxes", was a very Huge Traitor, for killing the The Great King Darius lll of Persia, after the Persian army had been defeated by Alexander The Great.
Really him? The greatest traitor?
I would consider more of a desperate man trying to save what little he could of Persia.. Not really the greatest traitor ever.
Originally posted by Fishy
Still he betrayed a dying country.... Nothing to spectacular if you ask me. But that's just me.
True. He did betray a dying Empire. Had Darius lll not been assissinated, it probably would've taken some of the "pressure" off of Alexander's subjagation of Asia. Maybe even have saved some lives.
As a Norwegian, I have to mention Vidkun Quisling. He was Norwegian politican, supporting Hitler during World War II. He held the office of Minister President in occupied Norway from February 1942 to the end of World War II, while the elected social democratic cabinet of Johan Nygaardsvold was exiled in London. Quisling forces were formed in most occupied European countries. They were used by the Axis to control the local population and free German forces for major military operations against Allies. However, as they were unpopular, German forces had to stay behind anyway. After the war Quisling was tried for high treason and subsequently executed by firing squad. His surname has become an eponym for "traitor", especially a collaborationist.(..)
A part of Norwegian history I'm not very proud of.
Regards, Yvonne
Originally posted by yvonnekarate
As a Norwegian, I have to mention Vidkun Quisling. He was Norwegian politican, supporting Hitler during World War II. He held the office of Minister President in occupied Norway from February 1942 to the end of World War II, while the elected social democratic cabinet of Johan Nygaardsvold was exiled in London. Quisling forces were formed in most occupied European countries. They were used by the Axis to control the local population and free German forces for major military operations against Allies. However, as they were unpopular, German forces had to stay behind anyway. After the war Quisling was tried for high treason and subsequently executed by firing squad. His surname has become an eponym for "traitor", especially a collaborationist.(..)A part of Norwegian history I'm not very proud of.
Regards, Yvonne
Every country had people like that, the idea's of Nazi's were popular especially in Aryan country's. There were people in all conquered country's that supported the Nazi's, they were usually put in high places and given important titles that had no real meaning as they had to listen to Hitler anyway. As much as it sucks, it's hardly something to feel really bad about. It just happens in wars, especially wars fought on idealistic grounds.
perhaps not the greatest traitor but certainly deserves mention: Andronikos Doukas (Adronicus Ducas). he deserted the emperor romanus iv diogenese in the pivotal battle of manzikert. while not the sole reason the byzantines lost the battle, one has to seriously question whether romanus could have prevailed if ducas didn't desert him and later stage a coup, as ducas was in command of a sizable force that was responsible for covering the byzantine army in the event of retreat. without this force the emperor was captured and the army routed.
the results of the battle allowed the seljuk turks permanent residence in anatolia. because the heartland of the byzantine empire was overrun, a later emperor, alexius I comnenus, appealed to the western states for aid. the direct result of this eppeal were the crusades.
further down the line, the byzantine military was never again capable of holding back islamic advance following that battle. again the result of which is centuries of transcontinental fighting between western european states and islamic states.
needleess to say we can feel the effects of these events every day of our lives today.
Originally posted by Kid Kurdy
What is Ephialtes doing on that list ? We almost know nothing from him, so it's a bit unfair to say he's a traitor.Maybe he had good reason to hate the Spartans. Maybe the Persians made him tell it. Who knows ?
The same could be said for Judas, we know what we know and we should base our opinion on that.