Throughout history, life has certainly presented its fair share of challenges. However, can we truly justify seeking personal improvement or comfort at the expense of others? Conflicts, political maneuvering, and personal ambitions have led many individuals to betray their friends and allies, often with surprising consequences—resulting in their downfall, exile, or even death. These infamous traitors hail from various corners of the globe, different time periods, and diverse backgrounds, yet they all share a common thread: history remembers them primarily for their disloyalty.
1. Benedict Arnold: A Disillusioned Patriot
When you think of the word “traitor” in America, Benedict Arnold is likely the first name that comes to mind. He had a tough upbringing but managed to find some success by his thirties, working as an apothecary and sea merchant. Living in New Haven, Connecticut, he became a strong advocate for the American Revolution. Arnold joined the Sons of Liberty and fought valiantly in several battles, even sustaining a serious gunshot wound to his thigh. Eventually, he earned the title of military governor of Philadelphia.
Despite his achievements, Arnold wasn’t wealthy and yearned to climb the social ladder. After losing his first wife, Margaret, he began courting 18-year-old Peggy Shippen, who came from a prominent family in Philadelphia, even though her father was a Loyalist. Following their marriage, financial struggles intensified as Arnold tried to maintain the lifestyle Peggy was used to.
His extravagant spending and mingling with Loyalists raised eyebrows among his peers. In 1779, he faced a court-martial on multiple charges, including misusing government property. Although he was acquitted of most charges, he received a reprimand from George Washington, with no further penalties.
As Arnold dealt with his court case and a slow-healing leg injury, he grew more disillusioned with the military and the Patriot cause. His frustration deepened when he was overlooked for several promotions. In May, he reached out to John Andre, a British major and friend of Peggy’s, through an intermediary.
In his letter, Arnold hinted at the possibility of defecting but sought two guarantees: a reward for his actions and assurance that Britain would see the war through to its conclusion. Both were promised, and soon, he and Andre began regular communication.
Within a year, Arnold was sharing troop locations and other sensitive military details with Andre. In August 1780, he took command of West Point, gaining access to crucial information about the Continental Army. He then started devising a plan for his ultimate betrayal, intending to hand over West Point to the British while transferring his assets to England.The scheme came to light in September when Andre was caught with damning evidence about the conspiracy and Arnold. Although Arnold successfully slipped away behind British lines before he was captured himself, he ended up openly fighting for the British army. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t achieve the recognition he had hoped for, as even British officials viewed him as unreliable. After the war, Arnold missed out on multiple promotions and spent his time living in England and Canada, never quite achieving the success he desired.
2. Marcus Junius Brutus: And You, Brutus?
Marcus Junius Brutus is often remembered for the famous fictional phrase Et Tu, Brute? and as one of Julius Caesar’s assassins. However, the story behind his betrayal runs much deeper. Brutus had a long-standing relationship with Caesar; in fact, Caesar had been involved with Brutus’ mother and regarded Brutus almost like a son. Although Brutus initially fought against Caesar during the civil wars leading up to Caesar’s rise as dictator, Caesar forgave him after his victory and welcomed him back.
Despite this bond, Brutus was drawn into a conspiracy led by Senator Gaius Cassius Longinus, who feared that Caesar was becoming a tyrant. On March 15th, 44 BCE, Brutus joined other senators in the plot to assassinate Caesar, resulting in the dictator being stabbed 23 times by a group of around 50-60 senators.
While only one of those wounds proved fatal, it was enough to end Caesar’s rule. Unfortunately for Brutus, he quickly lost the support of the Roman people following the assassination. Just two years later, after suffering defeat in battle, he took his own life.
3. Sidney Reilly: The Muse Behind James Bond
Sidney Reilly, a master spy born in Russia and also known as Georgi Rosenblum, is often thought to have inspired Ian Fleming’s famous character, James Bond. However, unlike Bond, Reilly seemed to have no loyalty to any particular side. In his early career, he dabbled in various roles, including businessman, arms dealer, and a spy for Scotland Yard. During World War I, he spent time in the United States, arranging arms deals for Russia before being recruited by Britain’s MI6 to work as a spy.
In 1918, MI6 sent him to Russia with the mission of helping to topple the Bolshevik government. He was quite successful at this, providing valuable intelligence to his handlers. At the same time, he caught the attention of the Japanese and began sharing information about the Russians with them as well.
After an assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin in August, Russian officials started cracking down on foreign spy networks, and soon Reilly’s face was plastered across newspapers and wanted posters. He managed to escape to Western Europe, but in his absence, a tribunal sentenced him to death if he ever returned to Russia.
In 1924, a letter supposedly written by leaders of the Communist International was intercepted, calling on British communists to incite revolution in their own country. This letter was leaked to the press just before England’s general election, which may have influenced the results. It was later suggested that Reilly either authored the letter or played a significant role in its interception and release.
In 1925, Reilly made a return to Russia to meet with members of The Trust, an anti-communist group. Unbeknownst to him, he was walking into a trap; his contact turned out to be a Soviet spy, and The Trust was merely a front aimed at capturing him and others like him. On November 5, 1925, Sidney Reilly was shot in a Russian forest, yet rumors of his survival circulated throughout Europe, contributing to his growing legend after his death.
4. Ephialtes: He Guided Xerxes’ Path
Even though Ephialtes is infamous for his betrayal, not much is known about his life. He was a Greek who abandoned his homeland in search of financial gain. During the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE, the Greeks, led by Spartan king Leonidas, found themselves in a tense standoff against Xerxes and his Persian army at a narrow mountain pass. Ephialtes approached the Persians and offered to reveal a secret path that only locals knew, which would allow them to flank the Greek forces. This move ultimately led to the Persians’ victory and their passage beyond Thermopylae, while Ephialtes’ name became synonymous with treachery throughout Greece.
5. Vidkun Quisling: A Figurehead Leader
Vidkun Quisling, one of the most infamous traitors of World War II, once held the position of Minister-President in Norway. Back in 1933, he tried to establish a Norwegian national-socialist party and aimed to lead it. Unfortunately, the party lost support, especially after the true nature of Germany’s Nazi party, which shared similar ideologies, became clear.
In April 1940, when Germany invaded Norway, Quisling took to the airwaves to declare a coup against the Norwegian government and announced the formation of a makeshift provisional government, hoping to gain favor and support from the Nazis. His efforts were unsuccessful, and just five days later, the Nazis installed a new regime with a German leader.
Despite this setback, Josef Terboven, the newly appointed leader, chose Quisling as Minister-President in an attempt to win over the Norwegian people. Quisling held onto this role and collaborated closely with Hitler until the war ended, at which point he was arrested. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, ultimately facing execution by firing squad.
6. Stella Goldschlag: Traitor to German Jews
Stella Goldschlag grew up in Berlin as a well-liked blonde student from a Jewish family. When World War II began, she was a young adult and saw many of her friends and family members taken away to concentration camps.
In 1941, she married Manfred Kubler and worked in a factory as the war continued. Stella was able to avoid being captured during a roundup of Jewish workers because the Nazi officers didn’t believe that a Jew could have blonde hair. Unfortunately, her husband was taken to Auschwitz and was never heard from again, and later, her parents were also sent to a death camp.
Instead of facing the same fate, Stella was offered a position as a “catcher,” where she would betray fellow Jews to the Nazis. She initially accepted this role with the promise that her parents would not be deported to Auschwitz. However, they were eventually deported, and Stella continued her work as a catcher. Those who took on this role received protection from deportation and were paid 200 marks for each person they turned over, in addition to their regular salary.
Stella is estimated to have betrayed hundreds, possibly thousands, of Jews, leading to their arrests and deaths. After the war, she spent time in Soviet prisons for her actions and was later convicted by a West German court in 1972, but did not face any further punishment. In the years that followed, she lived a reclusive life, struggling with health issues. She attempted suicide in 1984 and ultimately succeeded in 1994.
