Top 10 Traitors
Some do it for love, some do it for money or politics: these people sold out their countries, their comrades…even their own families…changing the course of history forever. Here is our list of Top 10 Traitors.
10. Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes was part of a revolutionary group of Roman Catholics, who plotted to blow up most of England’s aristocracy in 1605. The infamous Gunpowder plot was foiled by authorities who caught Fawkes before he could carry out his murderous intentions: he was apprehended due to his attire of cloak, boots and spurs, a suspicious costume designed to ensure a quick getaway.
Fawkes and his colleagues worked hard at their plot, using a cellar under The House of Lords as their base, and hiding over 1800 pounds of explosives in the small space.
Fawkes and his co-conspirators wished to loosen the influence of the Spanish kingdom on British affairs, feeling that they drained resources from England.
Guy Fawkes believed in his ideals, and he didn’t break, even under torture, refusing to name his comrades until he was sure they had already confessed. He was sentenced to by hung, drawn, and quartered in 1606, but foiled authorities by jumping from the scaffold to his demise at the last minute: even in death, he was crafty and mischievous.
His story is referenced in the film, V For Vendetta. To this day, the rebellious acts of Guy Fawkes are legendary, and the English have a special event each year, Bonfire Night, every fifth of November: it celebrates the failure of his notorious plot.
9. Robert Hanssen
Hanssen grew up in a dysfunctional home, suffering abuse at the hands of his father. He started a career as a police officer in Chicago, but left to pursue employment as an FBI Special Agent in 1976.
Hanssen had strange proclivities: his interest in videotaping his sexual activities with his own wife, and showing them to neighbors, put him well outside the mainstream. In 1979, he became involved with FBI counterintelligence, and this paved the way for some of the most treasonous acts in American history.
In 1983, Hanssen transferred to the Soviet espionage unit within the FBI. Using his vast knowledge of computers, wiretapping, and electronic surveillance, he went on to sell lists of FBI double agents and other moles to KGB agents for large sums of money.
Hanssen was turned in to the FBI by his own brother-in-law, Mike Hauck: he is currently serving a life sentence, in solitary confinement, at ADX Florence, a supermax facility in Colorado.
8. Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda grew up as Hollywood royalty, surrounded by luxury and privilege. After an easy entrée into the acting world, greased by family connections and her own good looks, Jane became a passionate activist, involving herself in causes that were controversial and, in the eyes of many American veterans of the Vietnam War (including Jon McCain) highly treasonous. “Hanoi” Jane sympathized with the North Vietnamese, posing with their anti-aircraft guns, and “questioning” American POW’s (through her comrades, the North Vietnamese) about the “benevolent” treatment they were receiving from their captors. The soldiers tried to explain to Fonda that they were in fact being ill treated, and sometimes tortured, but she didn’t believe it. Some soldiers claim they withstood more torture and suffering because they would not speak to Jane and parrot the viewpoint that their captors were kind and peaceful. Many veterans tried to bring Jane Fonda up on charges of treason after the war, but, as some rich and famous people tend to do, she managed to escape any real punishment for her role in supporting the enemy during the Vietnamese conflict. She says now that she regrets her acts, but veterans of that conflict have yet to forgive “Hanoi Jane” for her easy embrace of the enemy.
7. Brutus
Julius Caesar, self-appointed “dictator for life” of the Roman Empire, was a leader whose tyranny led to his assassination: he had many enemies in high places, including a group of senators who conspired to kill him, with the help of his own nephew, Marcus Junius Brutus. Brutus joined the Senate in Rome after an early and very lucrative career as a moneylender.
On the day of Caesar’s assassination, there were rumors that the plot had been discovered, and many of the conspirators were wary of carrying out the plan. Brutus’ own wife pleaded with him to stay far away from the Senate that day. Brutus was undaunted, and he went to lie in wait for his uncle, along with a group of senators who then attacked the dictator with their bare hands. The famous quote, “Et tu, Brutus?” was uttered by Caesar as he took in the depths of his betrayal by his own nephew. The assassins attacked Julius Caesar so savagely, that they themselves were injured in the melee.
Brutus committed suicide after losing the Second Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C.
6. Wang Jingwei
Considered the greatest traitor in Chinese history, Wang Jingwei was born in 1883. When he turned 21, he went to school in Japan, where he encountered Sun-Yat Sen, a famous Chinese revolutionary. Under the influence of Sen, he began to participate in plots against the government, including an abortive assassination attempt on the Manchu Regent in Beijing.
Jang stayed in prison until the Wuchang uprising in 1911: after that time, Sun remained his mentor. Sun Yat-Sen’s Guangdong government rose to power in 1920: when Sun lay on his deathbed in 1925, Wang was his chosen successor. Wang could not hold onto power, however: Jiang Jieshi’s military faction usurped him the very same year.
When Nanjing fell to the Japanese in 1937, Wang began his traitorous dealings with the Japanese government, earning his place in history. He supported Japan’s plans for an armistice in a notorious telegram that led to his expulsion from the Chongqing government. When China was in crisis and needed him most, Jingwei took pains to ally with the Japanese and go along with its invaders. Wang died before he could witness the defeat of the Japanese by Allied forces in WWII.
5. The Rosenbergs
Selling atomic secrets to the Russians during the Cold War is about as treasonous it as gets: the Rosenbergs were a married couple willing to do anything to further their Communist beliefs.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg’s were affiliated with the Communist Party quite openly until 1943, when they suddenly seemed to retreat from any political activity: this was the same year they joined forces with Soviet super spy, Feliksov.
From then on, Julius Rosenberg was heavily involved in espionage against the American government: he acted as a mule for covert information exchanges with the Russians, and sought out new recruits to betray and spy for the USSR. He was arrested as he shaved one morning in 1950. He and his wife, Ethel, were executed on June 19, 1953.
4. Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold was an American general who served the cause of the American Revolution until he decided to shift his allegiance to the British. Born in Connecticut in January 1741, he came from a troubled background, where his family struggled to survive poverty and hardship. Always known as a troublemaking child, he grew to become a prominent figure in the military, where he trained soldiers and planned out attacks.
From an early start as a war hero and patriot, Arnold plotted to turn over the American fort at West Point, New York to British forces during the American Revolution. His plot was unsuccessful and he was driven to escape by sea, under cover of darkness, to Britain, where he was not welcomed with open arms: they, too, distrusted the man who would betray his own country so readily. He died in poverty in Canada in 1801.
3. Aldrich Ames
Ames entered the Soviet Embassy in Washington in 1985 and offered to sell American secrets for one reason only: money. He was an alcoholic with a very expensive second wife, a woman name Rosario who burned through his paychecks from the CIA with alarming frequency.
In order to give the woman he loved the lifestyle she demanded, he was willing to do a lot of damage to the US government: by releasing the names of American spies and other counterintelligence information, he compromised over 100 United States military operations.
Thanks to Aldritch, who earned about 4.6 million dollars for his efforts, 10 Americans were executed because their covers were “blown”. In time, he revealed the names of every US agent in operation against the USSR. His lavish lifestyle raised red flags for the CIA, and he was arrested and convicted to life in prison: his wife, Rosario, was deported to South America.
2. Vidkun Quisling
Considered a lunatic right-winger in his native Norway, Quisling went unnoticed until forming his National Unity Party in 1933. He adored Hitler and was a firm believer in the doctrine of Fascism. Quisling, a military general, met with Hitler and made sure he had all the information he needed about Norwegian military strategy, so that Hitler could secure the occupation of Norway.
When the Germans invaded, Quisling was appointed as Premier, as the deposed government officials scattered and ran, trying to stay alive. The citizens of Norway were disgusted by his appointment, and rebelled until he was forced to step down. Nonetheless, Hitler had him reinstated that November. A failure and a weak politician, Quisling often made a fool of himself, even in the eyes of his Nazi collaborators. After the German surrender in Norway, Quisling was tried and convicted for deaths of 1000 Jews, along other war crimes. He was executed in 1945.
1. Judas Iscariot
According to the Bible, Satan “entered Judas” before he betrayed the son of Christ to Roman authorities. This infamous member of the Twelve Apostles betrayed his friend for money alone – thirty pieces of silver. Judas arranged a special signal to let the authorities know the identity of Jesus Christ: he would kiss Jesus to identify him. This “Judas kiss” led to the prosecution and death by crucifixion of the Son of God, and puts Judas Iscariot at number one as the most notorious traitor in human history: Judas died shortly after his monumental act of greed.
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I can't believe how much effort it must have taken Heather Matthews to build such an amazing list! I enjoyed the list immensely and read the piece many times. I want to commit the author's perceptiveness to my own memory! Thank you Heather! Wow!
Heather, this is a wonderful article. The variety of traitors from a long timeline was good reading.
I do have a thought on why Judas was a traitor. I know greed played a part, but there are also theories that Judas was not happy with the more passive direction Jesus was using to bring God's kingdom to the world (through evangelism). Many people expected the Son of God to be a true warrior and to conquer the heathen nations. Judas may have betrayed Jesus hoping this would be a "wake up call"" to Jesus and he would show his true power through an aggressive action against the Romans. Of course, Judas was actually fulfilling his role in God's true plan. His remorse over his betrayal was overwhelming and he killed himself by hanging, never even spending the 30 pieces of silver.
Yes, the Judas thing is interesting, from what I read there are two different versions of his death, and historians aren't sure how he actually died, but, if he did kill himself after being overwhelmed with guilt, that is certainly a dramatic end to his story, isn't it? Who can say for sure what his motivations were? It's all very compelling…I'm sure there was some "political" element as you mentioned
Jane Fonda SHOULD BY ANY MEANS BE No1
AUSSIE VIETNAM VETERAN
About the Judas thing, I heard the opposite of Toptenzmaster, that Judas didn't like that Jesus was genuinely thinking he was son of god and feared an aggressive attack on them, destroying them and their ideals.
That is one hell of a great compilation. As I read through the page I wandered who could be number 1. The traitors have been caught and their misdeeds exposed to the public once again in this well- researched article.
"While He was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. "
–Luke 22:47
where's robert ford in the list?
West,
Thank you so much for being so positive about my list. I'm so glad you like it.
Hello Cefragula,
Robert Ford is a great idea, I'm sorry he wasn't on the list.
Thanks for commenting
Since Judas was mentioned, how could you forget Delilah? You know, the woman who betrayed Samson in exchange for money?
I agree with you Samantha, Delilah is also a traitor? The woman was cunning, she made sure she gets something back after betraying Samson.
Your description of Jane Fonda being 1 of the top ten traitors. i don't agree with it. although unethical she did not reveal or attempt to reveal any state secrets. on the contrary she showed how the military war complex was draining the American tax payer & got 58,000 young Americans killed for nothing. the real criminals were the one who got us int the war in the first place, to fake the gulf of tonkin incident is the real treason.
Whether the war was right or wrong, her behavior resulted in rougher treatment for the soldiers in the enemy camps. They did not orchestrate the battle – they were simply doing their duty. I think she was irresponsible by putting them at risk with her actions.
Thanks for your comment. I respect your point of view.
actually it was the Congress of the United States that did not have the will to fight the war all the way and could have won easily instead of letting so many men die in vain and the entire area fall to a tyrannical dictatorship under communism. Hanoi Jane caused enormous suffering and a few deaths among the prisoners when they thought an American star would take the notes they gave her back home.
INSTEAD that bitch turned them over to the North Korean bastards who ran the camp and they were punished even worse.
Jane does indeed deserve the number one spot for worst traitor because she knew what she was doing and showed no remorse during or after wards. Years later she finally said a weak "sorry" in an attempt to help her pitiful career but many of us would never go to one of her movies if we were paid "20 piece of silver" and I hope the witch got damn good use of the traitors income she received
I don't think the Rosenbergs were traitors. At least they didn't deserve to die. Why didn't they execute Greenglass, who supplied them with the docuemnts. I also disagree with Fonda being on the list. We don't have to support the troops, its the first amendment. If you didn't want to be tortured, then you should've dodged the draft like good ole George W. and so many other great Republicans did during that time. Those are the real traitors.
and Bill Clinton too
I didn't realize Caesar spoke French.
He didn't – it's Latin.
That would of course, be my mistake.
Judas,really?
Theres not even any creditable evidence of his existence and betraying some random middle eastern man isn't exactly the worst betrayal in history.
If anything shouldn't the Rosenburgs be #1? By giving the secret to the Soviet Union they pretty much started a cold war which almost killed most of humanity.
I'm very happy with my work on this one. I think it would have been an oversight to leave Judas off the list – he is undoubtedly history's most notorious traitor. Thanks for your comment.
"betraying some random middle eastern man isn’t exactly the worst betrayal in history."
Racist! And the founder of the world's largest religion isn't exactly random.
Dude, we get it, you’re not religious. Passive-aggressive point taken. We’re talking famous traitors not whether a religion is true or not. …and considering the Cold War never came to blows, we. Ould debate the legitimacy of any harm in that piece of history too!
Still confused…
Random middle eastern guy+random middle eastern guy+betrayal=worst traitor in history?
Cardnals100 – Okay, we understand. You don't believe Jesus is the son of God. But even if you don't, the story of this betrayal is legendary and far more widely known than any other, regardless of your religious preference or lack thereof. I support this list and the choices made. And, yes, I am a Christian and I do believe Judas betrayed more than a "random middle eastern guy."
You have your opinion, I have mine. Let's respect each other's. Thanks.
*headdesk* Benedict Arnold was NOT a troublemaker as a child. That's a myth made up after his betrayal to discredit him.
I, too, must disagree with the inclusion of Jane Fonda on this list. Not because I'm defending her actions, but rather because there's a very real difference between her, and other people on the list. Some of these people were in military positions of power, or political positions of power, and their treachery lead directly to the deaths of large groups of people. Others (like the Rosenbergs) sold secrets that they knew were potentially deadly. Others either performed assassinations or attempted to. Ms. Fonda's behavior may have "given aid and comfort" to the enemy, and it may have lead to mistreatment of American prisoners, but I've never heard that she killed or tried to kill anyone. Her actions were treacherous and traitorous, but not murderous like the others here.
Robert Ford has been suggested, and would be an adequate replacement.
I'm on the fence when it comes to Jane Fonda. You can't put the treatment of POW's on her behalf,since it was the viet cong doing the torturing, not her. Heck, they could have said they did it because our president ate brussel sprouts and they didn't like that. Even if some POW's said they were mis treated because of statements related to JF, the fact is their captors did the damage.
As far as her being so friendly with the "enemy" and denying the mistreatment, that makes her an absolute idiot. But I don't think it is quite treason. I think mostly, that was her stance on the war to show she didn't believe in the war.
Fact is WE invaded the area…they didn't come over here and invade our country. How would you treat some military foreigners if hundreds of thousands of them showed up in the US to take control of our country and firebombed half the place?
This wasn't a war against hitler or something…there was little reason for us to be over there.
Fonda was not a traitor…there was no war declared. All of her actions were legal.
Putting Fonda on this list reveals more about the list maker than JF.
Benedict Arnold? Twice a traitor… First to the British, then to the rebels – which is why the British didn't trust him.
Brutus? Personal betrayal perhaps, but he was trying to save the Republic, whilst the followers of Caesar were trying to destroy it.
Jane Fonda? Seriously? In the same list as Judas Iscariot? That's a bit strong. Where are Field Marshal Petain, Tallyrand, the leaders of the 4th Crusade….
No matter who I decided to put on the list, someone would find fault with it. Overall, I think it's a good list and an interesting read. Thanks for your suggestions – they're really good ones.
You act like this is a list favorite snacks Heather. Your making serious allegations here as much as you would like to make light of it all.
“It is better to confess ignorance than provide it.”
She didn’t act that way at all….how many times does it have to be said there are only 10 slots for a top ten list? You can’t get to them all. Period. You can also tell she put a lot of thought into the order of the list and she backed it up with research. I noticed you didn’t say why you thought she was “making light of it all”.
Plus, she wrote the list and it’s her opinion. Go write your own list if you disagree.
This is a very intresting list. Thank you very much for it.
I hope to see more lists like this one!.
Thank you Abdul, I appreciate the nice comment!
you forgot Obama
This list was written a long time ago. Thanks for your comment.
I believe there is at least a few people for every living U.S. president that would list them as a traitor.
I should clarify that I would not have included Obama on this list even if I'd written it after the presidential election.
Jane Fonda? Really? What a joke you rightwingers are.
tell that to the POWs. If she didn't put them in danger, then why were they so disgusted and angry? It wasn't just politics. It was reckless of her.
I voted for Obama, Kerry, Nader and Clinton and I’d defend putting Fonda on the list. It’s not so much politics as it is a self-absorbed celebrity who doesn’t understand te consequences of her actions. She’s not evil, but foolish and dangerous for sure. Also: traitor just means you go against your own team whether it’s right or wrong.
Wouldn't Pocahontas count as a traitor, to her ppl as well?..
Liking this list.
The story about her protecting John Smith was unverified.
How about fidel castro,he was train by cia to overthrow dictator batista and to set up a democracy and every body know what happened later after.
Cardnals 100, you do realize that there were several sources besides the new testament that support the existence of Jesus (Tacitus, Flavius Josephus, etc) From people who didn't believe in him, but rather thought he was a man who had been trying to overthrow the Greek Gods, and who's apostle believed he had risen from the dead. The reason the death of some random middle eastern guy hits us hard wasn't just the fact we believe he was the son of God. From a historical standpoint, Jesus had a lot of followers, and Judas was his disciple, a close friend, who betrayed his teacher for what seems to be (but i agree it was probably more-probably scared of revolution) only money. And this today affects billions of people. So, yes, even I agree that some others could get # 1. But give this random middle eastern guy some credibility
LooL americans are so econimical with the truth (woundn'rt let me use the word stupi****) the guy who wrote this list is so wrong guy fawkes is considered to be a symbol of freedom in the uk not a traitor
He's not considered a symbol of freedom by *everyone* in the UK – at least not by the people who burn him in effigy every year
thanks, TioTorito
I’m not a guy
Or an American 
If you want to talk about the top traitors of all time, put Lebron James on that list right next to Judas Iscariot. James not only was a self-proclaiming "King" who didn't deliver what he promised, he backstabbed his loyal friends and fans in Ohio in front of a national audience on ESPN during prime time hours. He couldnt have had any less class about the whole thing. One of the most cowardly acts in all the history of sports!
Please do not forget one of the greatest traitors of all : Count Claus von Stauffenberg
He certainly deserves a mention of honor in the Traitors Realm.
He was also a great coward, since he prefered to place a bomb at a fully packed meeting room and running away, instead of pulling out a gun right away, killing A.H. and facing the foreseeable consequences.
I think your article is wonderful. However, the Judas story is very likely to be mythological 0 the Bible is not a terribly reliable historical source.
it's true, it's difficult to confirm things
thanks for the kind words.
You more than off on your facts here. Do a better job on research next time:
The British gave Arnold a brigadier general's commission with an annual income of several hundred pounds, but only paid him £6,315 plus an annual pension of £360 because his plot failed.[4] In December 1780, under orders from Clinton, Arnold led a force of 1,600 troops into Virginia, where he captured Richmond by surprise and then went on a rampage through Virginia, destroying supply houses, foundries, and mills.
He also earned him and his sons a land grant of 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) in Upper Canada,[100] near present-day Renfrew, Ontario. [101 (French Revolution from England)
Arnold was buried at St. Mary's Church, Battersea in London, England. As a result of a clerical error in the parish records, his remains were removed to an unmarked mass grave during church renovations a century later.[104] His funeral procession boasted "seven mourning coaches and four state carriages";[83] the funeral was without military honors.[105]
I do the best I can. I am not perfect.
in my blurb, i was referring to his childhood as being poor, not his adult life. The decline in his family's fortunes is well documented.
also…just because the British rewarded Arnold doesn't mean they liked or trusted him – it was a transaction. I have to disagree with your criticisms of my list.
True his child was poor, you are correct in that. When he died, while not rich he was clearly not die in poverty. In the end he betrayed the revilution not because he did not believe in it or because he believed in the British. He was a selfish man and in the end that was his down fall.
Yes, he was very selfish. Thanks for your comment – I appreciate your taking the time to read the list.
No worries.
A late entry with Bradley Manning. As a United States Army Intelligence officer he was entrusted with classified materials regarding troop displacement and names addresses etc of Iraqi translators and cooperators. He made a personal judgment that the world needed to know said classified information and gave over 15,000 classified documents to the website Wikileaks. Enemy combatants are known to track down cooperators and kill them and their families. He is currently charged with treason and being held in Kuwait. During wartime treason is punishable by death.
This is a really good list, but I'd really put Jefferson Davis and the rest of the confederate states leaders on here, probably in the top 5. Their action directly led to the bloodiest war in US history.
Nice list… but a bit biased. What about Russians selling secrets to USA. Are they not traitors?
it does depend on your perspective, doesn’t it? You basically have to pick a side when you’re listing traitors
thanks for the comment!
Fonda was a hero, not a traitor.
Brutus from Julius Caesar was not the nephew of Caesar. He was the brother-in-law.
thanks for the correction, and thanks for reading the list.
there was no mention of captain alfred svenson. he defected to east germany in the early sixties. he was an s-2 officer with privvy to top secret movements in germany. he was later released by the russians and sent back to the u.s. he now lives happily amongst us somewhere. he should have been executed, but for some reason he is still with us.
Ralph Hanes.. please email me.. my law professor was in the army w/ Alfred Svenson,
my prof was wondering what happened to him after his 7 yrs hard labor at leavenworth
I disagree with Benedict Arnold and question Brutus+ Robert Hanssen,
Benedict Arnold’s achievements were passed on as other persons and they got the credit, he also spent money on the continental army and wasn’t going to be reimbursed… he joined the British as a sign that as Americans do not appreciate him enough that he will go to the other side to show his worth.. and that he wouldn’t just stand in line taking these insults without consequence… showing a strong degree of the power of the individual over the conformity of a group
Brutus may have been the nephew of Julius but for the principles of the Roman Republic and against tyranny of Caesar thought that assasinating Caesar with his co-conspirators was the only way to protect the republic from an approaching kingship (all but name)… this urges the question of which is the greater treachery against family or nation?
Robert Hannsen betrayed “his” country but he was betrayed by his brother in law! Judas #1 for sure.
too many of you are taking this way too serious.
These lists are like those at Cracked. They are for fun and you don’t expect the people who make them to spend day of researching like they would if it was for a masters thesis or a book on the subject. Wikipedia is a primary source for cracked and top 10 and anyone can make changes to that site so it is rife with errors
I absolutely agree with you but I will say that the writers of cracked make fun of wikipedia all the time….I’m not sure that they use them as a source.
Hulk Hogan.
I found this list an interesting read. I agree with many of the selections but I do think there is one glaring omission: the united states government’s treatment of native americans. They were betrayed over and over, made promises to that were renegged upon, and butchered unmercifully until their entire race is nearly extinct now.
No Cassius?! He put Brutus up to it lol
I believe Urban Meyer has earned his place on this list as well.
Great work composing this by the way!
I would as the Walker Family of spies. The information they revealed to the Soviets was considerable.
Judas Iscariot probably wasn’t even a real person. Judas is a corruption of Judah or Yehuda in Hebrew and Iscariot or Eish Keriot means man of the towns. So it is probably a Christian attack on urban centers as being the source of corruption and evil. The existence of Judas is necessary to fill a plot hole in the story.
But in general your list strikes me as arbitrary both in who is included and in the rank order of the ten. Why was Robert Hanson ranked no. 9 and Ames ranked no. 3? You mention the Rosenburgs but not other nuclear spies like Klaus Fuchs and Ted Hall. Most historians consider Fuchs to have been a more important traitor than the Rosenburgs.
Gimme a freakin’ break. Jane Fonda doesn’t deserve to be on the same list with Judas and Aldrich Ames. Not when Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld aren’t. Nobody was murdered because she visited Vietnam. And who gives a fat flying flip what John McCain thinks?
In what sense did Guy Fawkes seek to loosen Spanish influence? In fact, he was working to bring about an end to Protestant England, and to bring the country back into the orbit of the Catholic kingdom of Spain. He was a religious fundamentalist terrorist who had already tried to further Spain’s cause in the Netherlands, Thank goodness we got him!
I would add the Greek who led the Persians thru the ‘secret’ passes thru the mountains at the battle of Thermopylae so they could then attack the Spartans from two directions.
First, under the Ames item, “10 Americans” were not executed; these were Soviet citizens who were spying for America. Second, the “top traitor” to the United States of America has to be Robert E. Lee.