The most famous betrayals in history. The most famous traitors

Encyclopedia of Plants 29.08.2020

Encyclopedia of Plants

The poisoning of a former intelligence officer who went over to the side of the British made us remember the most famous traitors of the Soviet era.

Oleg Penkovsky

Penkovsky went through the Soviet-Finnish war. During the Great Patriotic War, his career went uphill - he was a political instructor and instructor on the Komsomol line, and became commander of an artillery battalion. In the 1960s, he rose to the rank of senior GRU officer.

In 1960, the Colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate worked undercover as Deputy Head of the Foreign Relations Directorate under the Council of Ministers. In this position, he committed treachery in exchange for a financial reward.

He met with MI6 agent Greville Wynne and offered his services.

Penkovsky returned from his first trip to London on May 6, 1961. He brought with him a miniature Minox camera and a transistor radio. To the West, he managed to transfer 111 Minox films, on which 5500 documents were shot with a total of 7650 pages,

stated in archival documents.

The damage from his actions is amazing. The documents that Penkovsky transmitted to the West made it possible to expose 600 Soviet intelligence agents, of which 50 were GRU officers.

Penkovsky got burned because of his signalman, who was being followed.

In 1962, Penkovsky was sentenced to death. However, there is a version that he was not shot, but burned alive. It is believed that it was his painful death that another Soviet intelligence officer, Viktor Suvorov, describes in his book "Aquarium".

Victor Suvorov

Suvorov is the pseudonym of the former Soviet intelligence officer Viktor Rezun. Officially, he worked in Switzerland for Soviet intelligence, and at the same time clandestinely collaborated with the British MI6.

The scout fled to England in 1978. Rezun claimed that he did not plan to cooperate with British intelligence, but he had no choice: allegedly serious mistakes were made in the work of the intelligence department in Geneva and they wanted to make a scapegoat out of him.

But he was dubbed a traitor not because of his escape, but because of the books in which he described in detail the kitchen of Soviet intelligence and presented his vision of historical events.

According to one of them, the cause of the Great Patriotic War was the policy of Stalin. It was he, according to the writer, who wanted to seize the whole of Europe, so that its entire territory would be included in the socialist camp. For such views, Rezun, according to his own statement, was sentenced to death in absentia in the USSR.

Now the ex-scout lives in Bristol and writes books on historical topics.

Andrey Vlasov

Andrei Vlasov is perhaps the most famous traitor of World War II. No wonder his name has become a household name.

In 1941, Vlasov's 20th Army recaptured Volokolamsk and Solnechnogorsk from the Germans, and a year later, Lieutenant General Vlasov, commander of the 2nd Shock Army, was captured by the Germans. He began to advise the German military on how to fight against the Red Army.

However, even with helpful cooperation, he did not arouse sympathy among the Nazis.

According to some reports, Himmler called him "a runaway pig and a fool," and Hitler disdained to meet him personally.

Vlasov organized the Russian Liberation Army from among Russian prisoners of war. These troops participated in the fight against partisans, robberies and executions of civilians.

In 1945, after the surrender of Germany, Vlasov was captured by Soviet soldiers and taken to Moscow. He was accused of treason and hanged.

However, there are those who do not consider Vlasov a traitor. For example, the former editor-in-chief of the Military History Journal, retired Major General Viktor Filatov, claims that Vlasov was Stalin's intelligence agent.

Victor Belenko

Pilot Viktor Belenko escaped from the USSR in 1976. He landed in Japan on a MiG-25 fighter and requested political asylum in the United States.

Needless to say, the Japanese, together with American specialists, immediately disassembled the aircraft into parts and obtained the secrets of the Soviet friend-foe recognition technology and other military know-how of that time. The MiG-25 supersonic high-altitude fighter-interceptor was the most advanced aircraft of the Soviet Union. It is still in service with some countries.

The damage from Belenko's actions was estimated at two billion rubles, since the country had to hastily change all the equipment of the "friend or foe" recognition system. A button has appeared in the fighter's missile launch system that removes the lock on firing at friendly aircraft. She received the nickname "Belenkovskaya".

Shortly after his arrival, he received political asylum in the United States. The permission to grant citizenship was personally signed by President Jimmy Carter.

Later, Belenko assured that he had made an emergency landing in Japan, demanded to hide the plane and even fired into the air, driving away the Japanese, who were greedy for Soviet developments.

In America, Belenko worked as a military aerospace consultant, lectured and appeared on television as an expert.

According to the investigation, Belenko had conflicts with his superiors and in the family. After the escape, he did not try to get in touch with relatives, in particular his wife and son, who remained in the USSR.

According to his subsequent confessions, he escaped for political reasons.

In the US, he found a new family by marrying a local waitress.

Oleg Gordievsky

Gordievsky was the son of an NKVD officer and had collaborated with the KGB since 1963. As he himself said, he became recruited as an agent of the British intelligence service MI6 because of his disappointment in Soviet politics.

According to one version, the KGB learned about Gordievsky's treacherous activities from a Soviet source from the CIA. He was interrogated with the use of psychotropic substances, but was not arrested, but taken on a pencil.

However, the British Embassy helped the KGB colonel escape the country. He left the USSR in the trunk of a British Embassy car on July 20, 1985.

A diplomatic scandal soon erupted. The government of Margaret Thatcher expelled more than 30 undercover Soviet embassy workers from the UK. According to Gordievsky, they were agents of the KGB and the GRU.

British intelligence historian Christopher Andrew believed that Gordievsky was "the most important British intelligence agent in the ranks of the Soviet secret services after Oleg Penkovsky."

In the USSR, Gordievsky was sentenced to death under the article "Treason to the Motherland." He tried to write to his family - his wife and two daughters. But they were able to go to him only in 1991. However, the reunion was followed by a divorce initiated by his wife.

In his new homeland, Gordievsky published a number of books about the work of the KGB. He was a close friend of Alexander Litvinenko, took an active part in the investigation of his death.

In 2007, for services to Great Britain, Queen Elizabeth II personally presented him with the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

https://www.ridus.ru/news/272095

These people cause great harm to one side, and benefit to the other. But in any case, they are despised by both. History has preserved some of the most obvious and classic...

These people cause great harm to one side, and benefit to the other. But in any case, they are despised by both. History has preserved some of the most obvious and classic cases that are not in doubt. We will tell below about the most famous traitors in history.

Judas Iscariot.

The name of this man has been a symbol of betrayal for about two thousand years. Everyone knows the biblical story when Judas Iscariot betrayed his teacher Christ for thirty pieces of silver, dooming him to torment. But then 1 slave cost twice as much! The kiss of Judas has become a classic image of duplicity, meanness and betrayal. This man was one of the twelve apostles who were present with Jesus at his last supper. There were thirteen people, and after that this number was considered unlucky. There was even a phobia, fear of this number. The story says that Judas was born on April 1, also on a rather unusual day. But the history of the traitor is rather obscure and full of pitfalls. The fact is that Judas was the custodian of the fund of the community of Jesus and his disciples. There was much more money than 30 pieces of silver. Thus, in need of money, Judas could simply steal it without committing a betrayal of his teacher. Not so long ago, the world learned about the existence of the "Gospel of Judas", where Iscariot is depicted as the only and faithful disciple of Christ. And the betrayal was committed precisely on the orders of Jesus, and Judas took responsibility for his action. According to legend, Iscariot committed suicide immediately after his act. The image of this traitor is repeatedly described in books, films, legends. Different versions of his betrayal and motivation are considered. Today, the name of this person is given to those who are suspected of treason. For example, Lenin called Trotsky Judas back in 1911. The same one found his "plus" in Iscariot - the fight against Christianity. Trotsky even wanted to erect monuments to Judas in several cities of the country.

Mark Junius Brutus.

Everyone knows the legendary phrase of Julius Caesar: "And you, Brutus?". This traitor is not as widely known as Judas, but is also legendary. Moreover, he committed his betrayal 77 years before the history of Iscariot. These two traitors are related by the fact that they both committed suicide. Mark Brutus was the best friend of Julius Caesar, according to some sources, it could even be his illegitimate son. However, it was he who led the conspiracy against the popular politician, taking a direct part in his murder. But Caesar showered his favorites with honors and titles, endowing him with power. But the entourage of Brutus forced him to participate in a conspiracy against the dictator. Mark was among several conspiring senators who pierced Caesar with swords. Seeing Brutus in their ranks, he bitterly exclaimed his famous phrase, which became his last. Wishing happiness for the people and power, Brutus made a mistake in his plans - Rome did not support him. After a series of civil wars and defeats, Mark realized that he was left without everything - without family, power, friend. The betrayal and murder took place in 44 BC, and after only two years Brutus threw himself on his sword.

Wang Jingwei.

This traitor is not so well known in our country, but he has a bad reputation in China. It is often not clear how ordinary and normal people suddenly become traitors. Wang Jingei was born in 1883, when he was 21, he entered a Japanese university. There he met Sun Yat Sen, a famous revolutionary from China. He influenced the young man so much that he became a real revolutionary fanatic. Together with Sen, Jingwei became a regular participant in anti-government revolutionary uprisings. Not surprisingly, he soon ended up in prison. Wang served several years there, being released in 1911. All this time, Sen kept in touch with him, morally supporting and patronizing. As a result of the revolutionary struggle, Sen and his associates won and came to power in 1920. But in 1925, Sun Yat died, and it was Jingwei who replaced him as leader of China. But soon the Japanese invaded the country. It was here that Jingway committed the real betrayal. In fact, he did not fight for the independence of China, giving it to the invaders. National interests were trampled in favor of the Japanese. As a result, when the crisis broke out in China, and the country most of all needed an experienced manager, Jingwei simply left it. Wang clearly joined the conquerors. However, he did not have time to feel the bitterness of defeat, since he died before the fall of Japan. But the name of Wang Jingwei got into all Chinese textbooks as a synonym for betrayal of his country.

Aldrich Ames.

This high-ranking CIA officer had a brilliant career. Everyone predicted him a long and successful job, and then a well-paid pension. But his life turned upside down, thanks to love. Ames married a Russian beauty, it turned out that she was a KGB agent. The woman immediately began to demand from her husband to provide her with a beautiful life in order to fully comply with the American dream. Although the officers in the CIA make good money, this is not enough for the constantly required new decorations and cars. As a result, the unfortunate Ames began to drink too much. Under the influence of alcohol, he had no choice but to start selling secrets from his work. They quickly showed up a buyer - the USSR. As a result, during his betrayal, Ames gave the enemy of his country information about all the secret agents working in the Soviet Union. The USSR also learned about a hundred covert military operations conducted by the Americans. For this, the officer received about 4.6 million US dollars. However, all the secret someday becomes clear. Ames was exposed and sentenced to life in prison. The special services experienced a real shock and scandal, the traitor became their biggest failure in their entire existence. The CIA has long moved away from the harm that one single person did to it. But he just needed funds for an insatiable wife. That one, by the way, when everything turned out, was simply deported to South America.

Judas Iscariot.

The name of this man has been a symbol of betrayal for about two thousand years. It does not play a role and nationalities of people. Everyone knows the biblical story when Judas Iscariot betrayed his teacher Christ for thirty pieces of silver, dooming him to torment. But then 1 slave cost twice as much! The kiss of Judas has become a classic image of duplicity, meanness and betrayal. This man was one of the twelve apostles who were present with Jesus at his last supper. There were thirteen people, and after that this number was considered unlucky. There was even a phobia, fear of this number. The story says that Judas was born on April 1, also on a rather unusual day. But the history of the traitor is rather obscure and full of pitfalls. The fact is that Judas was the custodian of the fund of the community of Jesus and his disciples. There was much more money than 30 pieces of silver. Thus, in need of money, Judas could simply steal it without committing a betrayal of his teacher. Not so long ago, the world learned about the existence of the "Gospel of Judas", where Iscariot is depicted as the only and faithful disciple of Christ. And the betrayal was committed precisely on the orders of Jesus, and Judas took responsibility for his action. According to legend, Iscariot committed suicide immediately after his act. The image of this traitor is repeatedly described in books, films, legends. Different versions of his betrayal and motivation are considered. Today, the name of this person is given to those who are suspected of treason. For example, Lenin called Trotsky Judas back in 1911. The same found in Iscariot his "plus" - the fight against Christianity. Trotsky even wanted to erect monuments to Judas in several cities of the country.

Mark Junius Brutus.

Everyone knows the legendary phrase of Julius Caesar: "And you, Brutus?". This traitor is not as widely known as Judas, but is also legendary. Moreover, he committed his betrayal 77 years before the history of Iscariot. These two traitors are related by the fact that they both committed suicide. Mark Brutus was the best friend of Julius Caesar, according to some data it could even be his illegitimate son. However, it was he who led the conspiracy against the popular politician, taking a direct part in his murder. But Caesar showered his favorites with honors and titles, endowing him with power. But the entourage of Brutus forced him to participate in a conspiracy against the dictator. Mark was among several conspiring senators who pierced Caesar with swords. Seeing Brutus in their ranks, he bitterly exclaimed his famous phrase, which became his last. Wishing happiness for the people and power, Brutus made a mistake in his plans - Rome did not support him. After a series of civil wars and defeats, Mark realized that he was left without everything - without family, power, friend. The betrayal and murder took place in 44 BC, and after only two years Brutus threw himself on his sword.

Wang Jingwei.

We have this traitor is not so well known, but he has a bad reputation in China, the largest country in the world. It is often not clear how ordinary and normal people suddenly become traitors. Wang Jingei was born in 1883, when he was 21, he entered a Japanese university. There he met Sun Yat Sen, a famous revolutionary from China. He influenced the young man so much that he became a real revolutionary fanatic. Together with Sen, Jingwei became a regular participant in anti-government revolutionary uprisings. Not surprisingly, he soon ended up in prison. Wang served several years there, releasing us in 1911. All this time, Sen kept in touch with him, morally supporting and patronizing. As a result of the revolutionary struggle, Sen and his associates won and came to power in 1920. But in 1925, Sun Yat died, and it was Jingwei who replaced him as leader of China. But soon the Japanese invaded the country. It was here that Jingway committed the real betrayal. In fact, he did not fight for the independence of China, giving it to the invaders. National interests were trampled in favor of the Japanese. As a result, when the crisis broke out in China, and the country most of all needed an experienced manager, Jingwei simply left it. Wang clearly joined the conquerors. However, he did not have time to feel the bitterness of defeat, since he died before the fall of Japan. But the name of Wang Jingwei got into all Chinese textbooks as a synonym for betrayal of his country.

Hetman Mazepa.

This man in modern Russian history is considered the most important traitor, even the church anathematized him. But in recent Ukrainian history, the hetman, on the contrary, acts as a national hero. So what was his betrayal, or was it still a feat? The Hetman of the Zaporizhian Army for a long time acted as one of the most faithful allies of Peter I, helping him in the Azov campaigns. However, everything changed when the Swedish king Charles XII came out against the Russian Tsar. He, wanting to find an ally, promised Mazepa Ukrainian independence in case of victory in the Northern War. The hetman could not resist such a tasty piece of the pie. In 1708, he went over to the side of the Swedes, but just a year later their combined army was defeated near Poltava. For his betrayal (Mazepa swore allegiance to Peter), the Russian Empire deprived him of all awards and titles and subjected him to civil execution. Mazepa fled to Bender, which then belonged to the Ottoman Empire, and soon died there in 1709. According to legend, his death was terrible - he was eaten by lice.

Aldrich Ames.

Vidkun Quisling.

The family of this man was one of the most ancient in Norway, his father served as a Lutheran priest. Vidkun himself studied very well and chose a military career. Having risen to the rank of major, Quisling was able to enter the government of his country, holding the post of Minister of Defense there from 1931 to 1933. In 1933, Vidkun founded his own political party "National Accord", where he received a membership card for the first number. He began to call himself Föhrer, which was very reminiscent of the Fuhrer. In 1936, the party collected quite a lot of votes in the elections, becoming very influential in the country. When the Nazis came to Norway in 1940, Quisling suggested that the locals submit to them and not resist. Although the politician himself was from an ancient respected family, he was immediately dubbed a traitor in the country. The Norwegians themselves began to wage a fierce struggle against the invaders. Then Quisling came up with a plan in response to the removal of Jews from Norway, sending them directly to the deadly Auschwitz. However, history has rewarded the politician who betrayed his people as they deserved. On May 9, 1945, Quisling was arrested. While in prison, he still managed to declare that he was a martyr and sought to create a great country. But justice decided otherwise, and on October 24, 1945, Quisling was shot for high treason.

Prince Andrei Mikhailovich Kurbsky.

This boyar was one of the most faithful associates of Ivan the Terrible. It was Kurbsky who commanded the Russian army in the Livonian War. But with the beginning of the oprichnina of the eccentric tsar, many hitherto loyal boyars fell under disgrace. Among them was Kurbsky. Fearing for his fate, he abandoned his family and in 1563 defected to the service of the Polish king Sigismund. And already in September of the following year, he marched with the conquerors against Moscow. Kurbsky knew perfectly well how the Russian defense and army were organized. Thanks to the traitor, the Poles were able to win many important battles. They set up ambushes, drove people into captivity, bypassing the outposts. Kurbsky began to be considered the first Russian dissident. The Poles consider the boyar a great man, but in Russia he is a traitor. However, we should not talk about betraying the country, but about personally betraying Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Pavlik Morozov.

This boy had a heroic image for a long time in Soviet history and culture. At the same time, he passed under the first number among children-heroes. Pavlik Morozov even got into the book of honor of the All-Union Pioneer Organization. But this story is not entirely clear. The boy's father, Trofim, was a partisan and fought on the side of the Bolsheviks. However, after returning from the war, the serviceman abandoned his family with four small children and began to live with another woman. Trofim was elected chairman of the village council, while he led a stormy everyday life - he drank and rowdy. It is quite possible that in the history of heroism and betrayal there are more domestic than political reasons. According to legend, Trofim's wife accused him of hiding bread, however, they say that the abandoned and humiliated woman demanded to stop issuing fictitious certificates to fellow villagers. During the investigation, 13-year-old Pavel simply confirmed everything that his mother had said. As a result, the unbelted Trofim ended up in prison, and in retaliation, the young pioneer was killed in 1932 by his drunken uncle and godfather. But Soviet propaganda created a colorful propaganda story out of everyday drama. Yes, and somehow the hero who betrayed his father did not inspire.

Heinrich Lushkov.

In 1937, the NKVD was fierce, including in the Far East. It was Genrikh Lyushkov who headed this punitive body at that time. One year later, a purge began already in the "organs" themselves, many executioners themselves found themselves in the place of their victims. Lyushkov was suddenly summoned to Moscow, allegedly to be appointed head of all the camps in the country. But Heinrich suspected that Stalin wanted to remove him. Frightened by reprisals, Lyushkov fled to Japan. In an interview with the local newspaper Yomiuri, the former executioner said that he really recognizes himself as a traitor. But only in relation to Stalin. But Lyushkov's subsequent behavior suggests just the opposite. The general told the Japanese about the entire structure of the NKVD and the residents of the USSR, about exactly where the Soviet troops were located, where and how defensive structures and fortresses were being built. Lyushkov handed over military radio codes to the enemies, actively urging the Japanese to oppose the USSR. Arrested on the territory of Japan, Soviet intelligence officers, the traitor tortured himself, resorting to cruel atrocities. The pinnacle of Lyushkov's activity was his development of a plan to assassinate Stalin. The general personally took up the implementation of his project. Today, historians believe that this was the only serious attempt to eliminate the Soviet leader. However, she was not successful. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, Lyushkov was killed by the Japanese themselves, who did not want their secrets to fall into the hands of the USSR.

Andrey Vlasov.

This Soviet lieutenant general was known as the most important Soviet traitor during the Great Patriotic War. Back in the winter of 41-42, Vlasov commanded the 20th Army, making a significant contribution to the defeat of the Nazis near Moscow. Among the people, it was this general who was called the main savior of the capital. In the summer of 1942, Vlasov took over as deputy commander of the Volkhov Front. However, soon his troops were captured, and the general himself was captured by the Germans. Vlasov was sent to the Vinnitsa military camp for captured senior military officials. There, the general agreed to serve the Nazis and headed the "Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia" created by them. On the basis of KONR, even an entire "Russian Liberation Army" (ROA) was created. It included captured Soviet soldiers. The general showed cowardice, according to rumors, since then he began to drink a lot. On May 12, Vlasov was captured by Soviet troops in an attempt to escape. His trial was closed, as he could inspire people dissatisfied with the authorities with his own words. In August 1946, General Vlasov was stripped of his titles and awards, his property was confiscated, and he himself was hanged. At the trial, the accused admitted that he pleaded guilty, as he was cowardly in captivity. Already in our time, an attempt was made to justify Vlasov. But only a small part of the charges were dropped from him, the main ones remained in force.

Friedrich Paulus.

There was a traitor on the part of the Nazis in that war. In the winter of 1943, the 6th German Army under the command of Field Marshal Paulus capitulated near Stalingrad. His subsequent history can be considered a mirror in relation to Vlasov. The captivity of the German officer was quite comfortable, because he joined the anti-fascist national committee "Free Germany". He ate meat, drank beer, received food and parcels. Paulus signed the appeal "To the prisoners of war of German soldiers and officers and to the entire German people." There, the field marshal announced that he was calling on all of Germany to eliminate Adolf Hitler. He believes that the country should have a new state leadership. It must stop the war and ensure the restoration of friendship with the current adversaries for the people. Paulus even made a revealing speech at the Nuremberg trials, which surprised his former associates a lot. In 1953, the Soviet authorities, grateful for their cooperation, released the traitor, especially since he was beginning to fall into depression. Paulus went to live in the GDR, where he died in 1957. Not all Germans accepted with understanding the act of the field marshal, even his son did not accept his father's choice, eventually shooting himself due to mental anguish.

Viktor Suvorov.

This defector also made a name for himself as a writer. Once intelligence officer Vladimir Rezun was a GRU resident in Geneva. But in 1978 he fled to England, where he began to write very scandalous books. In them, the officer, who took the pseudonym Suvorov, quite convincingly argued that it was the USSR that was preparing to strike at Germany in the summer of 1941. The Germans simply preempted their enemy by a few weeks by delivering a preemptive strike. Rezun himself says that he was forced to cooperate with British intelligence. They allegedly wanted to make him last for the failure in the work of the Geneva department. Suvorov himself claims that in his homeland he was sentenced to death in absentia for his treason. However, the Russian side prefers not to comment on this fact. The former scout lives in Bristol and continues to write books on historical topics. Each of them causes a storm of discussion and personal condemnation of Suvorov.

Viktor Belenko.

Few lieutenants manage to go down in history. But this military pilot was able to do it. True, at the cost of his betrayal. We can say that he acted as a kind of bad boy who just wants to steal something and sell it to his enemies at a higher price. On September 6, 1976, he flew a top-secret MiG-25 interceptor. Suddenly, the senior lieutenant abruptly changed course and landed in Japan. There, the aircraft was dismantled in detail and subjected to a thorough study. Naturally, not without American specialists. The plane was, after careful study, returned to the USSR. And for his feat "for the glory of democracy" Belenko himself received political asylum in the United States. However, there is another version, according to which the traitor was not such. He just had to land in Japan. Eyewitnesses say that the lieutenant shot into the air with a pistol, not letting anyone near the car and demanding to cover it. However, the conducted investigation took into account both the behavior of the pilot in everyday life and the manner of his flight. The conclusion was unequivocal - landing on the territory of an enemy state was deliberate. Belenko himself turned out to be crazy about life in America, even canned cat food seemed to him tastier than those that were sold in his homeland. From official statements it is difficult to assess the consequences of that escape, the moral and political damage can be ignored, but the material damage was estimated at 2 billion rubles. Indeed, in the USSR it was necessary to hastily change the entire equipment of the "friend or foe" recognition system.

Otto Kuusinen.

And again, a situation where a traitor for some is a hero for others. Otto was born in 1881 and in 1904 joined the Finnish Social Democratic Party. Soon and leading it. When it became clear that the communists in the new independent Finland did not shine, Kuusinen fled to the USSR. There he worked for a long time in the Comintern. When in 1939 the USSR attacked Finland, it was Kuusinen who became the main puppet of the country's new government. Only now his power extended to the few lands occupied by Soviet troops. It soon became clear that it would not be possible to capture all of Finland and the need for the Kuusinen regime was no longer needed. In the future, he continued to hold prominent government posts in the USSR, having died in 1964. His ashes are buried near the Kremlin War.

Kim Philby.

This scout lived a long and eventful life. He was born in 1912 in India, in the family of a British official. In 1929, Kim entered Cambridge, where he joined a socialist society. In 1934, Philby was recruited by Soviet intelligence, which, given his views, was not difficult to implement. In 1940, Kim joined the British secret service SIS, soon becoming the head of one of its departments. In the 50s, it was Philby who coordinated the actions of England and the United States in the fight against the communists. Naturally, the USSR received all the information about the work of its agent. Since 1956, Philby has been serving in MI6, until in 1963 he was illegally transferred to the USSR. Here, the traitor intelligence officer lived for the next 25 years on a personal pension, sometimes giving advice.

Brutus and Cassius - the main conspirators of the assassination of Caesar - committed suicide, having suffered a complete defeat in the battle with the Caesarians Octavian, Antony and Pompey, who together made up the triumvirate.

Marcus Junius Brutus (85–42 BC) was a Roman senator. To understand this man who killed Caesar, one should turn to his genealogy. The fact is that for several generations the spirit of freedom, the protection of republican rights, was consciously cultivated in the Brutus family. Tyranny has become a kind of tradition for this family. On his father's side, the most famous ancestor was Lucius Junius Brutus, who participated in the overthrow of the Tarquins in 509 BC. e. On the side of his mother, Gaius Servilius Agala distinguished himself among his ancestors: in 439 BC. e. he personally killed Spurius Melius, who sought dictatorial power. True, historians doubt such a luxurious pedigree, since in reality the Brutus family can be traced only to the end of the 4th century BC. e.

It is known that the father of Brutus in 77 BC. e. was treacherously killed by Pompey the Great. After this, the little boy Brutus was taken into his family by his mother's brother, Quintus Servilius Caepio. This worthy Roman adopted a child, who in the literature of those years was often called Quintus Caepio Brutus. For the first time, his name is mentioned by contemporaries during the reign of the first triumvirate, created in 60 BC. e. Caesar, Pompey and Crassus. By that time, Brutus was already a prominent political figure, he was seriously accused of preparing an assassination attempt on Pompey (59 BC), which later turned out to be unproven. In 58 B.C. e. Brutus went to Cyprus in the retinue of another of his uncles, Mark Porcius Cato. In fact, this journey meant exile. Historians suggest that this period includes a document testifying to the provision of a loan by Brutus at the interest of this very province.

In 53 BC. e. Brutus set off on a new journey - to the East. This time he accompanied the proconsul of Cilicia in Asia Minor, Appius Claudius, his father-in-law. Perhaps the trip was also associated with financial transactions, although this is not known for certain.

When between Caesar and Pompey in 49 BC. e. a civil war broke out, Brutus, oddly enough, sided with Pompey, the murderer of his father. Most likely, he simply followed the example of his uncle Cato, who preferred to remain in Pompey's camp. During the battle of Dyrrhachia (the Adriatic coast of modern Albania), Brutus even distinguished himself. It is surprising that after the defeat of Pompey's army at Pharsalus (in Northern Greece) in 48 BC. e. Caesar, despite the apparent opposition of Brutus, spared his life. Moreover, Brutus then received several responsible positions. In 46 BC. e. he was appointed proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul, in 44 BC. e. city praetor in Rome. Further, in 43 BC. e., Caesar planned to appoint Brutus as the ruler of Macedonia, a province north of Greece, and then as a consul, but, alas, these plans failed to come true.

The emperor showed clear signs of his disposition to Brutus, but he remained indifferent. And instead of gratitude, Brutus responded with vile betrayal. He was interested in the proposal of Gaius Cassius Longinus to kill the great dictator. Brutus soon became the head of the conspiracy, and then the main participant in the brutal massacre. The official version describing the circumstances of the murder immortalized the woeful exclamation of the divine: “And you, Brutus!”. Caesar did not expect to see among the senators who attacked him with drawn blades his favorite Brutus.

Despite the fact that most of the senators were dissatisfied with the latest actions of Caesar, after his tragic death, the name of the emperor was exalted, some of his reforms remained in force and were further developed. At the solemn funeral of Caesar, his closest associate Mark Antony delivered a heartfelt and fiery speech. The Romans condemned the leaders of the conspiracy, and they had no choice but to leave the capital.

September 44 B.C. e. Brutus went to Athens, then north to Macedonia (it was this province that Caesar assigned him). Quintus Hortensius, proconsul of that province, and son of the famous orator Hortensius, yielded his place to Brutus, considering his claims to be quite legitimate. Thus, Brutus soon received both the province and its army.

But in Rome Brutus's willful proconsulship aroused disapproval. In addition, Antony, having more rights, managed to get this position from the senate for himself, or rather, for his brother Gaius. In March 43 B.C. e. Guy went to Macedonia through the Adriatic Sea. But as soon as he went ashore, Brutus's troops forced him to surrender, and then locked him up in Apollonia. The Senate was forced to confirm Brutus as proconsul of that province. When in April 43 B.C. e. Anthony was defeated at the Battle of Mutina in northern Italy, Brutus, now with Cassius, was appointed commander in chief of the troops of all the eastern provinces. With such a powerful army, Brutus was not slow to equip a campaign, mainly for the sake of booty, choosing the Thracians for these purposes.

Meanwhile, a second triumvirate was created in Rome. November 43 B.C. e. Mark Antony, Octavian (the future Augustus) and Mark Aemilius Lepidus united their armies to fight against other pretenders to the Roman throne. Brutus was one of the opponents and was well aware that he would have to fight with the coalition. He hastened to move to Asia Minor, where he hoped to form an army worthy of a rival: to recruit more people, organize a fleet, and most importantly, to collect the funds necessary for all this. After this, Brutus planned to join Cassius' army. But while he was collecting money (for this he had to visit Lycia on the coast of Asia Minor, on the island of Rhodes, as well as off the coast), precious time was lost. Only in the second half of 42 BC. e. the armies of Brutus and Cassius reunited and moved west.

By this time Antony and Octavian were well prepared. The meeting of opponents took place in Macedonia. In the first battle, Brutus defeated Octavian, but Cassius could not stand the intensity of the battle; at one point it seemed to him that the battle was lost, and in desperation he committed suicide. Cassius threw himself on his sword (Mark Antony later took the same death). Three weeks later a second battle took place, also at Philippi. This time, Brutus, heartbroken at the death of Cassius, was defeated and his army routed. The surviving soldiers fled, Brutus could only follow the example of his deceased comrade. According to some sources, the valiant warrior did not have the courage to throw himself on the sword, and he asked one of his soldiers to stab him. One way or another, but on October 23, 42 BC. e. Brutus is gone.

Historians, chroniclers, writers and poets have traditionally portrayed Brutus as a man of strict rules, a fighter for republican freedoms who avoided extreme measures and unnecessary bloodshed. He himself was well known as a scholar and scribe. The writer, politician and great orator Cicero named one of his best treatises after him, several other equally important ones were also dedicated to Brutus. Shakespeare called him "the noblest of the Romans," but, in fact, Brutus remained a typical aristocratic senator who by all means defended the legal privileges of his class. A class that has traditionally been in power for several centuries. Brutus' desire to be proconsul of one of the Roman provinces testifies only to the fact that he was absolutely sure of his right to do so. After all, people of his class were born to rule and use the state apparatus in their own interests. However, Brutus himself was completely unprepared for such a responsible mission.

Perhaps, participating in a conspiracy against Caesar, Brutus acted from sincere motives, unable to come to terms with the appropriation of all power by one person. Greek philosophers justified the murder of a tyrant. But he could have other, no less significant arguments for him personally. It is known that Caesar seduced Brutus's mother, Servilia. On this occasion, there were even rumors that Brutus himself was the illegitimate son of Caesar, otherwise why did he favor the Roman so much? Undoubtedly, a personal motive was present in the commission of bloodshed: Brutus avenged his mother, for his reputation and for such frank signs of Caesar's attention ... But the motives of a civil nature still remained dominant - Caesar was guilty of accepting the position of dictator for life (dictator perpetuus ).

Brutus' uncle, Cato, like many other high-ranking Romans, was extremely indignant at this fact, which trampled on the republican ideals of Rome. Brutus was not only under the influence of Cato, but openly admired the moral qualities of his uncle. In order to get closer to his idol, he even went for a divorce from his wife Claudia, and then married Cato's daughter, Portia. True, after his death, but the more clearly comes out the sincere devotion of Brutus to this man. Proof of this devotion is the panegyric composed by Brutus in honor of Cato. In Rome, among high-ranking officials, there has long been an unshakable conviction that the entire class of senators should rule, and not a single person, even if endowed with incredible talents. Brutus said, "I will resist any power that puts itself above the law."

No matter how high the ideals of this worthy Roman were, he lost, just like his closest associate, Cassius. "Woe to the vanquished!" - the main principle of those in power. If they had no pity for the defeated Caesar, then they had no pity for themselves.

The ancient Roman Empire was a powerful power that conquered many lands. An important role in the creation of such a large state was played by both monarchs and commanders, who, at the head of their armies, conquered foreign territories. One of the most famous of these commanders is His murder is shrouded in many mysteries and secrets, but only the fact that his last words were: “And you, Brutus!” However, many are wondering why this was the last thing that fell from the lips of the conqueror.

Mark Junius Brutus

All of Brutus's ancestors were ardent freedom fighters who defended the people from despots and actively promoted tyranny. His paternal grandfather - Lucius Junius Brutus - became a participant in the overthrow of Gaius Servillius Agala, and his father himself was killed for his views by Pompey the Great when Brutus was still a child. He was brought up by his mother's brother, the well-known warrior Quintus Servilius Caepio.

Mark Junius Brutus participated with his uncle in many battles, speaking on the side of Pompey, who was opposing Caesar. It is not known why, after the defeat of Pompey's army at Pharsalus, which took place in 48 BC. e., Caesar decided to save the life of Brutus, and subsequently appointed him to several important positions at once. Already in 46 BC. e. he became proconsul, and in 44 BC. e. - Praetor in Rome.

Caesar and Brutus

The ancient Roman emperor showed Brutus an obvious location, and this only led to the fact that Caesar became the victim of an insidious conspiracy and was betrayed by a man who, it would seem, should be infinitely grateful to him. Nevertheless, Brutus became not only a participant, but also the head of the conspiracy. Gaius Cassius Longinus, who wanted to kill the dictator, became his ideological inspiration. Days of the one who said: "And you, Brutus!" - were counted.

Conspiracy

Organizing the conspiracy, Brutus was guided not only by state motives, but also by personal ones. Caesar seduced his mother, Servilia, which disgraced and dishonored the young Roman senator. Some historians even believe that Brutus was the illegitimate son of a great commander, otherwise why would he be so sympathetic to him ...

Senators were also participants in the conspiracy, dissatisfied with the fact that Caesar sought to limit the full power of this state body and turn it into a monarchy. According to many politicians of those times, the ideal model was the power under which all segments of the population would be in harmony. Under such a system, the existence of a tyrannical ruler, which, according to the senators, was Caesar, is impossible.

Murder

March 15, 44 B.C. e. Caesar uttered his last words, which became a popular expression: "And you, Brutus!" The signal for the attack was given by the emperor's attorney, Lucius Cimber. None of the conspirators wanted to single-handedly commit murder, so as not to take on the sin, so they agreed that each of them would strike Caesar with a stylus, since they were not allowed into the Senate building with weapons.

After the blows of the first conspirators, the commander was still alive and tried to resist. When the turn of Brutus came to plunge the stylus into his patron, Caesar cried out with great surprise: “And you, Brutus!” - because he had no reason not to trust his pet, and he did not expect such a betrayal from him.

Even many centuries later, the words spoken by Caesar remain known throughout the world. Plutarch, who captured them on paper, and Shakespeare, who wrote the play Julius Caesar, contributed a lot to this. The catchphrase "And you, Brutus!" still symbolizes the betrayal and treachery of a loved one.