Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] tresoun, from Anglo-French traisun, from [[Latin]] tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, [[betray]]

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] tresoun, from Anglo-French traisun, from [[Latin]] tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, [[betray]]

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Century 13th century]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Century 13th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : the [[betrayal]] of a [[trust]] : treachery

*1 : the [[betrayal]] of a [[trust]] : treachery

Outside [[legal]] [[spheres]], the word "traitor" may also be used to describe a [[person]] who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own [[political]] party, nation, [[family]], [[friends]], ethnic [[group]], team, [[religion]], social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are [[controversial]] and disputed, as the person may not identify with the [[group]] of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group [[leaders]] making the charge. See, for example, race traitor.

Outside [[legal]] [[spheres]], the word "traitor" may also be used to describe a [[person]] who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own [[political]] party, nation, [[family]], [[friends]], ethnic [[group]], team, [[religion]], social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are [[controversial]] and disputed, as the person may not identify with the [[group]] of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group [[leaders]] making the charge. See, for example, race traitor.

At times, the term "traitor" has been levelled as a [[political]] epithet, regardless of any verifiable treasonable [[action]]. In a [[civil war]] or insurrection, the winners may deem the losers to be traitors. Likewise the term "traitor" is used in heated [[political]] [[discussion]] – typically as a slur against political dissidents, or against officials in [[power]] who are [[perceived]] as failing to [[act]] in the best interest of their constituents. In certain cases, as with the German [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolchsto%C3%9Flegende Dolchstoßlegende], the accusation of treason towards a large [[group]] of people can be a unifying [[political]] [[message]].

At times, the term "traitor" has been levelled as a [[political]] epithet, regardless of any verifiable treasonable [[action]]. In a [[civil war]] or insurrection, the winners may deem the losers to be traitors. Likewise the term "traitor" is used in heated [[political]] [[discussion]] – typically as a slur against political dissidents, or against officials in [[power]] who are [[perceived]] as failing to [[act]] in the best interest of their constituents. In certain cases, as with the German [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolchsto%C3%9Flegende Dolchstoßlegende], the accusation of treason towards a large [[group]] of people can be a unifying [[political]] [[message]].

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_law English law], high treason was punishable by being hanged, drawn and quartered (men) or burnt at the stake (women), or beheading (royalty and [[nobility]]). Treason was the only [[crime]] which attracted those penalties (until they were abolioshed in 1814, 1790 and 1973 respectively). The penalty was used by later monarchs against people who could reasonably be called traitors, although most [[modern]] jurists would call it excessive. Many of them would now just be considered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissident dissidents].

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_law English law], high treason was punishable by being hanged, drawn and quartered (men) or burnt at the stake (women), or beheading (royalty and [[nobility]]). Treason was the only [[crime]] which attracted those penalties (until they were abolioshed in 1814, 1790 and 1973 respectively). The penalty was used by later monarchs against people who could reasonably be called traitors, although most [[modern]] jurists would call it excessive. Many of them would now just be considered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissident dissidents].

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare William Shakespeare]'s play [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Lear King Lear] (circa 1600), when the [[King]] learns that his daughter Regan has [[publicly]] dishonoured him, he says They could not, would not do 't; 'tis worse than murder: a conventional [[attitude]] at that time. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri Dante Alighieri]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Divine_Comedy Inferno], the ninth and lowest circle of Hell is reserved for traitors;[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_139#139:12._JUDAS_ISCARIOT Judas Iscariot][[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Iscariot ], who betrayed [[Jesus]], suffers the worst torments of all: being constantly gnawed at by one of [[Lucifer]]'s own three mouths. His treachery is considered so notorious that his name has long been synonymous with traitor, a fate he shares with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold Benedict Arnold], Marcus Junius Brutus (who too is depicted in Dante's Inferno, suffering the same fate as Judas along with Cassius Longinus), and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidkun_Quisling Vidkun Quisling]. Indeed, the etymology of the word traitor originates with Judas' handing over of [[Jesus]] to the [[Roman]] [[authorities]]: the [[word]] is derived from the [[Latin]] traditorem which means "one who delivers."

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare William Shakespeare]'s play [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Lear King Lear] (circa 1600), when the [[King]] learns that his daughter Regan has [[publicly]] dishonoured him, he says They could not, would not do 't; 'tis worse than murder: a conventional [[attitude]] at that time. In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri Dante Alighieri]'s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Divine_Comedy Inferno], the ninth and lowest circle of Hell is reserved for traitors;[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_139#139:12._JUDAS_ISCARIOT Judas Iscariot][[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Iscariot ], who betrayed [[Jesus]], suffers the worst torments of all: being constantly gnawed at by one of [[Lucifer]]'s own three mouths. His treachery is considered so notorious that his name has long been synonymous with traitor, a fate he shares with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold Benedict Arnold], Marcus Junius Brutus (who too is depicted in Dante's Inferno, suffering the same fate as Judas along with Cassius Longinus), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidkun_Quisling Vidkun Quisling]. Indeed, the etymology of the word traitor originates with Judas' handing over of [[Jesus]] to the [[Roman]] [[authorities]]: the [[word]] is derived from the [[Latin]] traditorem which means "one who delivers."

[[Christian]] [[theology]] and [[political]] [[thinking]] until after [[the Enlightenment]] considered treason and [[blasphemy]] as synonymous, as it challenged both the [[state]] and the will of [[God]]. Kings were considered chosen by [[God]] and to betray one's country was to do the work of [[Satan]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason]

[[Christian]] [[theology]] and [[political]] [[thinking]] until after [[the Enlightenment]] considered treason and [[blasphemy]] as synonymous, as it challenged both the [[state]] and the will of [[God]]. Kings were considered chosen by [[God]] and to betray one's country was to do the work of [[Satan]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason]

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]