20 Historical Figures Who Were Betrayed by Their Closest Allies

Julius Caesar had many enemies, but the betrayal that went down in history came from men he knew well. Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus joined the conspiracy that led to his assassination in 44 B.C. Brutus, in particular, became a symbol of personal betrayal, as Caesar had shown him favor and placed his political trust in him. 

William Wallace spent years fighting against English rule and became one of Scotland’s most famous national heroes. In 1305, he was captured near Glasgow; according to tradition, it was Sir John of Menteith who betrayed and handed him over. While some historians question the exact details of this incident and the precise nature of the relationship between the two men, this story is deeply rooted in the collective memory of the Scottish people. 

Thomas Becket and King Henry II were initially close friends, before Henry appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry expected unwavering loyalty from him, but Becket took his ecclesiastical role very seriously and began to oppose the king’s attempts to interfere in the affairs of the Church. Their friendship turned into a bitter public feud that ended with Becket’s assassination in Canterbury Cathedral, carried out by knights who believed they were acting on the king’s behalf. 

Anne Boleyn helped shape England’s religious and political future, but her position depended heavily on Henry VIII’s favor and Thomas Cromwell’s political expediency. When she failed to produce a surviving son and came into conflict with Cromwell, the very people who had once benefited from her rise helped orchestrate her downfall. She was accused of adultery, incest, and treason, and was executed in 1536. 

Richard III went into the Battle of Bosworth counting on the support of powerful nobles who had served under him. The Stanley family—in particular Lord Thomas Stanley and Sir William Stanley—remained on the sidelines until the crucial moment, when they threw their support behind Henry Tudor. This decision helped seal Richard’s fate on the battlefield and paved the way for the Tudor dynasty to come to power. 

Shaka turned the Zulu Kingdom into a major military power, but his later reign inspired fear, even among those closest to him. In 1828, he was assassinated by a group that included his half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana. This betrayal, coming from within his own family and political circle, made it all the more brutal. 

Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro were once partners in the conquest of Peru. Their alliance fell apart due to conflicts over power, territory, and wealth, and Almagro was eventually executed following a civil conflict between Spanish factions. In 1541, supporters of Almagro’s son stormed Pizarro’s palace in Lima and killed him. 

Leon Trotsky was one of the key figures of the Russian Revolution and helped establish the Red Army. After Lenin’s death, his rivalry with Joseph Stalin took a dramatic turn, even though they had once been prominent Bolshevik comrades. Stalin outmaneuvered him, stripped him of his power, forced him into exile, and ultimately had him assassinated in Mexico in 1940. 

Napoleon inspired extraordinary loyalty, but by 1814, many of his closest military and political allies were exhausted by these ceaseless wars. Marshal Marmont, one of his principal commanders, surrendered Paris and defected with his troops to the Allied side. Other marshals then pressured Napoleon to abdicate rather than continue fighting. 

Robespierre emerged as one of the most powerful figures of the French Revolution, supported by fellow revolutionaries who had once shared his goals. During the Thermidorian Reaction of 1794, members of the Convention turned against him and ordered his arrest. The next day, he was executed, and the Reign of Terror collapsed with him. 

Simón Bolívar fought to liberate much of South America from Spanish rule, but his political ambitions created tensions with his former allies. Francisco de Paula Santander, who had served as Bolívar’s vice president and was a fellow fighter for independence, became one of the leading opponents of his centralized regime. After an assassination attempt on Bolívar in 1828, Santander was accused of involvement, sentenced to death, and then exiled after Bolívar spared his life. 

The downfall of Edward II was partly due to those who should have been closest to him. His wife, Isabella of France, allied herself with Roger Mortimer and led an invasion that forced Edward to abdicate. Edward was deposed in favor of his young son, Edward III, and later died in captivity. 

Mary, Queen of Scotland, faced betrayal from nobles, family members, and political allies throughout her tumultuous reign. After the assassination of her husband, Lord Darnley, and her controversial marriage to the Earl of Bothwell, the Scottish lords turned against her. She was forced to abdicate in favor of her young son, James VI. 

Richard II believed that royal authority and loyalty would protect him, but his own cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, had other plans. Henry returned from exile in 1399, while Richard was in Ireland, and rallied disgruntled nobles to his cause. Richard was forced to abdicate, and Henry became Henry IV. 

Thomas More faithfully served Henry VIII as a scholar, lawyer, and Lord Chancellor. Their relationship deteriorated when More refused to endorse Henry’s break with Rome and to recognize the king as the supreme head of the Church of England. Henry, who had once been his patron and friend, had him imprisoned and executed for treason in 1535. 

Joan of Arc helped Charles VII establish his legitimacy and gain momentum during the Hundred Years’ War. After her capture by Burgundian forces in 1430, Charles neither rescued her nor ransomed her, even though her victories had strengthened his claim to the throne. She was handed over to the English, tried for heresy, and burned at the stake in 1431. 

Charles fought against Parliament during the English Civil War and eventually surrendered to the Scots in 1646. He expected negotiations, but the Scots handed him over to the English Parliament the following year, after securing a ransom and political guarantees. This decision helped pave the way for his trial and execution in 1649. 

Vlad III of Wallachia relied on alliances to survive among powerful neighbors, notably Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. He sought the help of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, against the Ottomans, but Matthias chose instead to imprison him for years. This betrayal was the result of political intrigues, fabricated charges, and particularly opportune timing. 

Atahualpa had just emerged victorious from a bloody civil war against his brother Huáscar when he met Francisco Pizarro and the Spaniards. Pizarro invited him to what appeared to be a diplomatic meeting in Cajamarca, then had him captured in a deadly ambush. Atahualpa paid a colossal ransom in gold and silver, but the Spaniards executed him anyway in 1533. 

Malcolm X rose to prominence within the Nation of Islam, where he was one of the most influential figures. After breaking with the organization, tensions between him and his former allies escalated sharply. In 1965, he was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York, and men linked to the Nation of Islam were convicted, although the case has remained controversial for decades.