Heroes who were not as depicted. Genocidal maniacs and genocide. Julius Caesar, Oliver Cromwell, Andrew Jackson.
77Contents.
Some heroes are really maniacs.
Julius Caesar. Not such a hero really.
Oliver Cromwell. A real genocidal maniac. Ask them in Ireland.
Andrew Jackson. America's own genocidal maniac.
Trail of tears. Legacy of genocidal Andrew Jackson.
One of genocidal maniac Cromwell's "Great Victories".
"Heroes" that were not as portrayed.
Some heroes are really maniacs.
We all know about genocidal maniacs of modern times such as Hitler and Stalin. Hitler's holocaust against the Jews, and an assortment of other groups that he believed to be inferior, has become a byword for infamy. The murders attributed to Joseph Stalin scarred Russia and a large part of Eastern Europe for many years until his fortuitous death in 1953. Who can forget the horrors of "The Killing Fields" in Cambodia? Pol Pot was the main perpetrator there. Idi Amin murdered hundreds of thousands in Uganda. "The Great Helmsman" Mao Tse Tung left China awash with blood. The notion that statues to these people might be erected in any democratic/free society is totally repugnant to all right thinking people. Writing a sympathetic biography of Adolf Hitler would, rightly , be classed as the worst form of revisionism; likewise going on a lecture tour to extol the virtues of Joseph Stalin would quite correctly bring revulsion to all right minded people.
And yet, there are some people in history, who are held up as examples to be followed, who were just as bad as the characters mentioned in the last paragraph. There are those whose portraits occupy honoured places in the sanctums of our democracies, whose actions brought dishonour to the human species that we all claim to belong to. I’m not in this article going to ask why this should be the case. I am just going to briefly remind you of three examples of people who are held up as exemplars, and outline the charges that, in all fairness, ought to be laid at their doors.
Julius Caesar. Not such a hero really.
What school boy, or girl, has not heard of Julius Caesar? This general is continually referred to as one of the greatest of the romans. People talk about the "Murder" of Caesar on the Ides of March as if it were a great crime. His account of his campaigns in Gaul is standard learning in any Latin language class in the world. It is considered to be one of "the Greats" of Roman Literature. In military academies the tactics of Caesar are studied, almost as if they were military "Holy Writ". The overall impression that is given out about Julius Caesar today is that he was one of the greatest figures from history. The fact that he was responsible for mass murder of over a million people scarcely gets a mention. In Gaul it is estimated that one million persons died in the wars and another million was sold into slavery, draining Gaul of approximately one third of the entire population.
Caesar had effected an unprecedented genocide (in modern terms we would talk about war crimes, genocide and crimes against the humanity), all in the name of honour and glory. A large number of women and children can be counted in this number. If a Gallic tribe did not surrender, or rebelled against the hated roman rule, the great Caesar would order that the entire tribe be eradicated. You will not find statues or portraits of Hitler in honoured positions in our homes, but you will of this maniac. Slobodan Milosevic was brought to trial for ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia, (rightly so). Julius Caesar,(the original ethnic cleanser) gets an honoured place over the mantelpiece. Why?
Oliver Cromwell. A real genocidal maniac. Ask them in Ireland.
Outside The Houses of Parliament in London there is a larger than life size statue of a seventeenth century general wearing the military uniform that was typical of that period. The statue was erected to commemorate the life of one who is held up in the history of most democratic countries as a great champion of the rights of man, and a hero of the great fight for the rights of Parliament against a despotic king. School children are brought to see the statue, and are then lectured by their teachers about the great contribution made to democracy by the man who is commemorated there. And yet this man, (Oliver Cromwell) was one of the greatest mass murderers in history. They might put up statues to him in England, but no one will ever erect one to his "glorious memory" in Ireland.
The Cromwellian campaign of 1649-1653 in Ireland is remembered by the Irish as the most brutal of the many campaigns of conquest that were conducted against that country, by its larger neighbour (England) for hundreds of years. The massacres that were committed under the direct orders of Oliver Cromwell accounted for the deaths of many thousands. The laying waste of the land, the famine that ensued, the deportation of thousands to slavery in America, and the forced deportations of the catholic landowners from the more fertile parts of the country to the almost desertified areas in the west resulted in a reduction of the Irish population by 600,000 from 1,400,000 in less than a decade. The tactics employed by this "father of democracy" would make Stalin blush. If they can erect statues to this monster, why don’t they erect one to Pol Pot to stand beside it? They were no different.
One of genocidal maniac Cromwell's "Great Victories".
Andrew Jackson. America's own genocidal maniac.
One man whose statue appears in prominent places throughout The United States is the seventh President, Andrew Jackson. He is remembered for his populist appeal. He was, for instance, the first president to allow the public access to his presidential inaugural ball. He is seen in history as a protector of popular democracy and individual liberty for American citizens, and a father of the Democratic Party. He is affectionately remembered as "Old Hickory", and the impression given of him is that he was an all-round amiable kind of "Father figure" type. And yet this man was responsible for signing into law The Indian Removal Act which set into motion that great stain on nineteenth century American History, "the Indian Wars. This law authorised the American President to "Negotiate" the transfer of Native American tribes from the land that they had occupied for centuries to areas further west. Compensation was to be offered, but if the tribes refused it they were to be removed anyway. As a sop to the conscience of the US government it was stated that if the tribes gave up their traditional way of life and settled on the land like "Good Americans", they would be allowed to remain.
The first major casualty of the act was The Cherokee Nation. 15,000 Cherokee signed a petition against their forced removal, but it was ignored. The "Trail of tears" expulsion of this people from their ancestral lands resulted in thousands of deaths. Defenders of Jackson will point out that this happened during the presidency of his successor, Van Buren, but it was Andrew Jackson who signed the law, and he had been making the passing of an Indian removals act a platform of his campaigns for president from 1824.
So what can I say? If there is a Hell; and Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, and company are there for their crimes, they won’t be bored, they can always engage in reminiscences of genocidal mania, with the three "Heroes" mentioned above.
Trail of tears. Legacy of genocidal Andrew Jackson.
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I totally agree there Petra, that is why I included Andrew Jackson among them.
What about Nixon, Kissinger, the two Bush-es and the rest?
America's crims did not stop with the Jockson's signature on the extermination of the Indians. I know you know that and probably so does the rest of the world, but nobody is standing up for the truth, because America is too much of a power...so the charade is going on and I am sick of it
There are loads of people like that. They are all over the world. America is probably less bad than most of the others. The only thing that really annoys me about the United States is the nauseatingly hypocritical way that they hold up their system as the best in the world, when it manifestly is nothing of the sort.
Money is at the root of the problem, as always. People suck up to the communist slugs that rule China, and turn a blind eye to that governments oppression in Tibet etc, because trade with China is so important. It's sickening, but that's the way the world seems to work.
Interesting. There is a lot going on here in this hub. Perhaps more than you know. The alpha dogs always fight over territory and belief systems. Why is that?
It seems to be a characteristic of humans that the more powerful groupings always want to dominate their neighbours. For instance even though the european settlers displaced the native americans, a lot of the native american tribes had also being oppressing their less powerful neighbours. The Aztecs for one would never have been defeated if the spanish had not made alliances with other nations in Mexico that the Aztecs had been brutally oppressing. Of course the spaniards eventually enslaved their allies in their turn, but that is another story. I doubt, however, that there is more going on in my article than I know since I wrote it, unless I am inspired by the God that you claim not to believe in, or my mind has been subverted by The Devil who you also dismiss as a myth. Am I detecting a slight chink in your atheism?
I've got lots of chinks, that's for sure. As far as being an atheist, all I can say is that the human concept of god or gods doesn't really work for me at all. It's all myths and legends and hocus pocus.
The point I was trying to make here when I said that there is more going on in this hub was that I got the feeling that you have a few chinks in believing in humanity. The people represented in this article are all animals just as you and I are. Alpha males, to be sure. Their competitive spirit is what drives them to be who they are and they are recognized by other alpha males. Their belief systems caused them to act in certain ways.
Giving them god-like status is also caused by other humans and as you point out is quite often based on controversial opinions.
But that is who and what we are. We fashion own belief systems and I'm sure the devil or god has nothing to do with any of it.
Hi austinstar. I can see myself in partial agreement with you, but before you dismiss the idea of God as just totally a myth study what you can on "The Turin Shroud". It might make you think a little about some of your, no doubt deep held, beliefs. The "miracle of the sun" at Fatima might give you pause as well.
Good luck.
Been there, done that. Both are still legends and stories. Enjoy the show.
If you say so. Thanks
Great revelatory hub. These are some of the things I have said and agree upon. Unfortunately, one of the conditions of human nature is that once they assume god-like dimensions, corruption and cruelty sets in. The nature of lording power over others often includes the use of terror to keep the people in line. Coupled with that is misinformation, censorship, propaganda, xenophobia and dumbing down. We see this trend running though history and prevalent today no matter where we cast our gaze. If I could say one thing it isl expand on a good idea and run with it!
Thanks syzygyastro for your supportive comments. You are one of "The good guys" I might indeed come back to that in the future. People make excuses for Caesar, Cromwell, and Andrew Jackson etc, by saying that they were just dealing with what they saw as problems, using the methods that were approved of in their day. I sometimes wonder if the same thinking will be applied to Hitler at some point in the future.
In January 1991 the troops of Nobel Peace Prize winner Gorbachev killed unarmed civilians in Lithuania and Latvia who wanted only one thing - the restoration of independence of their countries, six month later, only days before Gorbachev lost power, his special forces killed another seven Lithuanians who only did their job - protecting their country.
nextstopjupiter. Thanks for your information. I didnt know that. He is probably the next one they will be erecting statues to. The world is indeed a mad place.
Hi, there have been so many in history like this, as you said about caesar, we were occupied for over six hundred years by the romans, and the English people were enslaved and treated like animals, I also had a thought about Oliver Cromwell, if it wasn't for him, Matthew Hopkins the well know witchfinder wouldn't have been able to kill hundreds of innocent women as witches! it seems that the leaders at that time started the whole ball rolling there! thanks nell
Hi Nell. Thanks for reading. If my memory serves me right Hopkins came to a bad end himself. He got hanged I think. He certainly deserved to, if he did.
Some people – like Hitler – are epitomes of Wrong that should not be repeated. This should be emphasized on their statues. Thanks for this informative hub.
Thanks for reading Martie. I totally agree.
Excellent--I totally agree with you! I have always disliked the adoration esp. given to Jackson. I had distant relatives possibly removed due to his harsh, illegal actions. The Cherokees lost their mountains and were herded like animals in the winter to Oklahoma. Great Hub!
GarnetBird thanks for commenting.
Those were awful times. I would like to say that they are all in the past, but sadly similar things are still happening in the world today, just not in our countries so much.
Very well put article.
Thormod. Thanks for reading.
And Thanks for the compliment.
An interesting, and different view from the norm makes for an intense read, nice work :)
I'm glad you liked that one lozzoms
Thanks for reading.
A fine hub as usaul. Well researched and compelling. My son did a report in grade school about Andrew Jackson.He told me president jackson was boring! I totally disagree. I think andrew jackson was one of the more interesting presidents.
His hatred toward the indian people was a result of being wounded by one during a battle. He also hated the british because he was severely wounded by a british officer while a prisoner of war. His brother died while he was gone.
This does nothing to justify his action's, just shed some light on his thinking.
Thanks ruffridyer.
I probably know less about Andrew Jackson, than I do about the other two.
Most people know about Caesar, and I know a lot about Cromwell, because I am Irish, and we were the principle victims of his genocide.
Cromwell and Jackson are pretty well known as the murderous monsters that they were . . . .when you can find someone who actually has a clue who those persons are or were. Mostly though, it seems like History is about as appreciated as is music these days. People are so dull and dim here in America that they think the hookers on American Idol are "musicians;" so by and large. . .you can't expect any intelligence in regards to History. The average high school graduate in my neck o' the woods might know that Andrew Jackson was an American President - but Cromwell, they've never heard of, and just what will knowing about figures from English History do towards helping me buy my dream SUV?
As for Caesar, he's probably best described as the master of modern propaganda, as his Gaul campaign's updates were read to crowds on the street corners while Pompey plotted to have him killed, and made the huge mistake of making it obvious that that was his plan - I suppose that, who was it? Crassus? . . .the merchant king of Rome, and third part of their triumverant - had been killed at that point, pretending he was a General, and not a merchant. (it's my understanding that he was given an honorary title of "General," and had his own legions. . .but the guy wasn't a Caesar or Pompey on the battlefield.)
Even reading the four books (Historical fiction) by Conn Iggulden - the violence becomes nauseating. I'd never read or heard that Caesar would have non combatants killed. I know that he attributed massive amounts of respect to his own word, and let everyone backing Vercingetorix go in peace when the tribal chieftan of the Celts turned himself in. . . .to be executed as sports and entertainment for the bloody warmongering public of Rome.
Thanks Wesman.
It is not every day that I would say that comments positively add to Hubs, but yours always do.
I think Crassus was brought in because he was a millionaire. Even then money talked.
So little has changed really.
Well I do try sometimes. You're choices of topics sometimes bring out better comments from me than other people's do. I was feeling very long-winded last night, and left a comment twice as long as some poor woman's hub was.
I might have recalled the name, but I'd never mislead you into thinking that I could spell " Vercingetorix " without some (your favorite) help from Wikipedia.
I really like Conn Iggulden for historical fiction - he's a great storyteller, and he always tells you at the end of his books,
"Look, this part - I made that up because it makes my story better. I changed this over here to this as well - but here is what actually happened."
I nearly cried tears of joy when Genghis, the Mongol Monster died in his series about him - Caesar may as well have been a Red Cross relief worker, working without pay - compared to the Mongol.
One more thing - I admire Andrew Jackson for his daring and surviving the removal of Rothschild's central bank in America. Truly, I'd never have lived were one of my ancestors not protected an hid (in Missouri, I think) during that trail of tears thing. Other than that ancestor - I'm basically a British mutt a few thousand miles removed.
Cheers Wesman.
That Conn Iggulden, sounds like someone worth reading. If you like entertaining historical fiction, I strongly recommend George Mac Donald Fraser, and his "Flashman" series. They are the only books that I ever got my local library to order for me specially.
He has great notes at the end of his books as well, and he fills in all the gaps.
Your knowledge and out-of-the-box thinking always amazes me, Chris!
I couldn't agree more with you on this one, and I also think that most of the people we celebrate as heroes today were simply monsters during their days...
However, that's the way the world is turning, I guess...
I just wanted to add to a part of your story - as far as Slobodan Milosvic is concerned, people are not aware that his life was saved when he was taken to trial in 2001. If he hadn't been taken to Hague, someone would have coldbloodedly killed him here in Serbia... Rightly so, as you say.
A great hub, my friend.
Thanks for those kind comments. I guess Milosevic is one of those people who will divide Serbian opinion for years, just as Stalin has done in Russia.
Excellent Hub. Enjoyed reading it. As a historian, I concur, far too often nations have glorified leaders who in actuality behaved quite criminally. I look forward to reading more of your Hubs. Speaking of Hitler, I have posted several Hubs about the Nazi concentration camps.
Thanks phdast7 for your good comments. I hope to read some of your historical hubs later today.
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Petra Vlah Level 3 Commenter 18 months ago
While all of the historical figures you mentioned above have a well deserved place in the “Hall of World Criminals”, should we want to talk about a country qualified to make the top of the list of such “hall of shame – fame”, that should be, with no doubt, America itself.
In 200 years of bloody history, America managed to kill millions in the name of “democracy” and higher standards of civilization; from its own Indians, to the Japanese people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, from Congo to the Balkans, from Iraq to Cambodia and Vietnam, Nicaragua and the rest.
If this does not qualify America as the terrorist of the world, I don’t know what will. Talking about "heros" that ARE NOT as they are portrayed... what a joke!