ATurncoat, also known as aTurncloak, is a person who shiftsallegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party. In political and social history, this is distinct from being atraitor, as the switch mostly takes place under the following circumstances:
In groups, often driven by one or more leaders.
When the goal that formerly motivated and benefited the person becomes (or is perceived as having become) either no longer feasible or too costly even if success is achieved.
Remaining an active participant, usually on the same basis, e.g. combatant or politician as opposed to surrender or ceasing activity as a defector.
Ostensibly open and honestly intentioned for a cause, as opposed to material personal gain or espionage of treachery.
From a military perspective, opposing armies generally wear uniforms of contrasting colors to prevent incidents offriendly fire. Thus the term "turn-coat" indicates that an individual has changed sides and his uniform coat to one matching the color of his former enemy.
Even in a modern historical context "turncoat" is often synonymous with the term "renegade", a term of religious origins having its origins in theLatin word"renegare" (to deny). Historical currents of great magnitude have periodically caught masses of people, along with their leaders, in their wake. In such a dire situation, new perspectives on past actions are laid bare and the question of personal treason becomes muddled. One example would be the situation that led to theAct of Abjuration orPlakkaat van Verlatinghe, signed on July 26, 1581, in the Netherlands, an instance where changing sides was given a positive meaning.
The first written use of the term meaning was by J. Foxe inActes & Monuments in 1570: "One who changes his principles or party; a renegade; an apostate." Cited 1571*[1]
"Turncoat" could also have a more literal origin. According to theRotuli Chartarum 1199–1216 two barons changed fealty fromWilliam Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke,[2] toKing John. In other words, they turned their coats (of arms) from one lord to another, hence turncoat.
A mass-shift in allegiance by a population may take place duringmilitary occupation, after a nation has been defeated inwar or after a major social upheaval, such as arevolution. Following the initial traumatic times, many of the citizens of the area in question quickly embrace the cause of the victors to benefit from the new system. This shift of allegiance is often done without much knowledge about the new order that is replacing the former one. In the face of fear and insecurity, the prime motive for a turncoat to draw away from former allegiances may be mere survival.
Often the leaders are the first to change loyalties, for they have had access toprivileged information and are more aware of the hopelessness of the situation for their former cause. This is especially apparent indictatorships andauthoritarian states when most of the population has been fedpropaganda and triumphalism and has been kept in the dark about important turns of events.
As time goes by, along with the embracing of life under the new circumstances comes a need ofburying and rewriting the past byconcealing evidence. The fear of the past coming to upset the newly found stability is always present in the mind of the turncoat. The past is rewritten andwhitewashed to cover former deeds. When successful, this activity results in the distortion andfalsification of historical events.
Even after the death of a turncoat his family and friends may wish to keep uncomfortable secrets from the past out of the light. There is a fear of loss of prestige as well as a wish to honor the memory of a family member from the part of those who have experienced the positive side of the person.
In certain countries, individuals and organizations have actively investigated the past to bring turncoats to justice to face their responsibilities.[3]
TheEnglish Civil War during the 17th century. The siege ofCorfe Castle was won byOliver Cromwell's soldiers when they turned their coats inside out to match the colors of the Royal army.[4] This was only a wartime deception and the Parliamentarians had turned their coats literally but not really turned from their cause at all.
During the revolution of the British American colonies when U.S. Continental Army Major GeneralBenedict Arnold defected to the side of the British in May 1779.[5]
Canada during theWar of 1812. Some Canadians feltrepublicanism was a better system of government than the constitutionalBritish monarchy and fought on the side of the invading Americans.
Germany and Austria after World War II when many former enthusiastic members of theNazi Party embraced the newly created nations ofWest Germany orEast Germany and sought to erase or at least minimize their former role as Nazis. During the decades that followed, many former Nazis regained prestige and held high posts in the new republics.Kurt Waldheim, an Austrian Nazi, even held the highest post asSecretary-General of theUnited Nations from 1972 to 1981 and asPresident of Austria from 1986 to 1992.[6]
France after the downfall of theVichy Regime, when manycollaborationists, whether home-grownfascists or Nazi sympathizers, played down their role in the former government and its institutions.
In Syria, right after thefall of the Assad regime on 12/8/2024, many of his supporters turned against him and began voicing support for theSyrian revolution. Just days before his escape, many were calling for bombs to be dropped on rebel-controlled areas.
^TheOxford English Dictionary "turncoat, n. and adj." cites "John Foxe · The first volume of the ecclesiastical history containing the actes and monuments of thynges passed..in this realme · Rev. ed., 1570 (2 vols.)."
^David Crouch. 2002. William Marshal. Knighthood, War and Chivalry, 1147–1219. Longman. London
^Randall, Willard Sterne (1990).Benedict Arnold: patriot and traitor (1st ed.). New York, N.Y: Morrow.ISBN978-1-55710-034-4.
^The TimesKurt Waldheim, Austrian head of the UN who as president of his country was later tainted by charges of complicity in Nazi atrocities, Timesonline
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