Johann Hunt
Trust is fragile, and the consequences of breaking trust can ripple for generations. Our history is full of moments when the cold betrayal of a famous person turned the tide, but it didn’t quite end well for them. Wonder who they were? Here are the stories of the ten biggest traitors in history.
Judas Iscariot
Iscariot is a classic symbol of treachery. His betrayal of Jesus Christ for thirty silver coins is among the most famous ones. The kiss he gave in Gethsemane signaled Jesus’ arrest and led to the crucifixion. Wracked with remorse, Judas threw the money back at the priests and ended his life.
William Wallace
Scottish legend William Wallace was handed over to English forces by Sir John Menteith, a supposed ally and admirer of King Edward. Captured during Scotland’s fight for independence, Wallace endured a horrific execution in 1305—hanged, drawn, and quartered. It only strengthened his status as a martyr for freedom.
Benedict Arnold
Once a celebrated General, Benedict’s name became synonymous with betrayal after he conspired to surrender West Point to the British during the Revolutionary War. Fleeing to England, he lived out his days shunned and despised. Needless to say, his treachery overshadowed his earlier contributions to American victories.
Vidkun Quisling
Norway’s most disgraced turncoat, Quisling, aligned himself with Germany during WWII. His puppet government earned him the scorn of his nation. After the battle, he was tried and executed for high treason in 1945 and left his name as a global label for betrayal.
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
This couple’s trial and punishment are among the most controversial moments in America’s history of justice. The Cold War paranoia surrounding espionage culminated in the execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Convicted of leaking nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union, the pair’s case sparked global protests.
Marshal Michel Ney
In 1815, Ney’s execution by firing squad marked a dramatic fall for one of Napoleon’s greatest commanders. After swearing allegiance to King Louis XVIII, he rejoined Napoleon during the Hundred Days, only to face treason charges after Waterloo. Following Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Ney was convicted of treason and executed shortly after.
Pierre Laval
As leader of Vichy France during WWII, Laval betrayed his country and collaborated with Nazi Germany by deporting Jews and supporting German policies. After France’s liberation, he was convicted of high treason and executed by firing squad in 1945, leaving behind a tarnished legacy.
Lord Haw-Haw (William Joyce)
Joyce became Britain’s final execution for treason—a dark footnote in history. The voice of Nazi propaganda and a radio personality, William Joyce, spread anti-Allied rhetoric during WWII. People started calling him Lord Haw-Haw. In 1945, he was arrested, tried for treason, and hanged the following year.
Robert Brasillach
Collaboration with Nazi occupiers during France’s darkest hours sealed Robert Brasillach’s fate. His anti-Semitic propaganda and support for fascism drew harsh retribution after liberation. Despite petitions for clemency, he was executed by firing squad in 1945. It still remains a debated topic.
François Achille Bazaine
Surrendering Metz and his army to Prussia during the Franco-Prussian Battle earned General François Bazaine a treason conviction. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was reduced to imprisonment. Escaping into exile, Bazaine died disgraced, and his betrayal strained France’s military legacy.