10 Famous Acts of Betrayal for Power and 10 for Principles

Marcus Junius Brutus joined the conspiracy that led to the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., after Caesar had gained considerable authority in Rome. Although Brutus later claimed to have acted to protect the Roman Republic, many historians also point out that powerful senators feared losing their political influence under Caesar’s rule.

At first, Benedict Arnold was a respected general who fought alongside the American colonies during the War of Independence. Frustrated by financial problems, a lack of recognition, and political conflicts, he secretly agreed to surrender West Point Fort to the British in exchange for payment and a military post. 

Richard Neville, known as the Earl of Warwick or “the Kingmaker,” helped Edward IV seize the English throne during the War of the Roses. When Warwick lost his influence over royal decisions, he switched sides and aligned himself with Edward’s enemies. His shifting allegiances demonstrated how power struggles often took precedence over loyalty among medieval nobles.

Alcibiades was a brilliant but controversial Athenian politician who lived during the Peloponnesian War. After facing criminal charges in Athens, he defected to Sparta, where he subsequently advised its leaders against his native city. He eventually switched sides once again, making him one of the most infamous political opportunists of the ancient world.

Vidkun Quisling collaborated with Nazi Germany during the occupation of Norway in World War II. He attempted to lead a pro-German government while his own country remained under foreign rule. His actions were so widely condemned that the word “quisling” has entered several languages to refer to a traitor.

Mir Jafar played a major role in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, during which the British East India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal. He secretly cooperated with British forces after being promised a position of political power in return. This betrayal helped expand British influence throughout India.

Marshal Philippe Pétain became a national hero during World War I, but the decisions he made afterward permanently tarnished that reputation. After France’s surrender to Germany in 1940, he became head of the Vichy government, which cooperated with the Nazi authorities instead of continuing the resistance from abroad. 

In the 12th century, Andronikos I Komnenos seized power in the Byzantine Empire through political maneuvering and the use of violence against his rivals. After presenting himself as a reformer, he consolidated his power and eliminated his opponents within the imperial family. 

Before becoming King of Scotland, Robert Bruce killed his rival John Comyn during a meeting in a church in 1306. This conflict stemmed in part from competing claims to leadership of Scotland during the wars against England. 

Ephialtes is remembered for betraying the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. He showed the Persian army a mountain path that allowed them to outflank King Leonidas and the Spartan defenders. 

In the 16th century, Martin Luther challenged the authority and practices of the Catholic Church after denouncing practices such as the sale of indulgences. Church leaders viewed his actions as a betrayal of religious unity and obedience. 

Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in Maryland and went on to become one of the most prominent figures in the abolitionist movement in the United States. Slave owners viewed his escape and activism as treason, because he openly challenged the institution that claimed him as its property. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian who opposed Adolf Hitler and eventually joined the resistance against the Nazi regime. Although the German government labeled his actions as treason, Bonhoeffer believed that Christian principles required resistance to dictatorship and persecution. 

Thomas More faithfully served King Henry VIII for years before refusing to support the king’s break with the Catholic Church. His refusal to recognize Henry as head of the Church of England led to his being charged with treason. 

Claus von Stauffenberg was a German army officer who took part in the July 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. Although he betrayed his government’s leaders, he was convinced that Germany had to put an end to the Nazi regime to prevent further destruction and moral collapse. 

Galileo defended the heliocentric theory—that the Earth revolves around the Sun—which challenged the prevailing religious and scientific beliefs of his time. Many authorities viewed his support for this theory as an act of disobedience toward established doctrine. 

At the start of World War II, Oskar Schindler was a businessman with ties to the Nazi Party, but he later used his factories and resources to save more than a thousand Jewish lives. In the eyes of Nazi officials, his actions ran counter to state policy and wartime priorities.

In the early 15th century, Jan Hus denounced corruption within the medieval Catholic Church. Church authorities regarded his teachings as a dangerous betrayal of religious order and doctrine. 

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg leaked the “Pentagon Papers,” thereby revealing classified information about the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. His supporters believed he had exposed the government’s deception in the public interest, while his critics accused him of betraying the nation’s trust. 

Sophie Scholl was a member of the “White Rose” resistance group in Nazi Germany, which distributed leaflets criticizing the regime and the war. The government labeled her actions as treason because she openly encouraged resistance among German citizens.