- Tyrannicide
Tyrannicide literally means the killing of a
tyrant . Typically, the term is taken to mean the killing orassassination of tyrants for the common good. The term "tyrannicide" does not apply to tyrants killed in battle or killed by an enemy in an armed conflict. It is rarely applied when a tyrant is killed by a person acting for selfish reasons, such as to take power for themselves. Sometimes, the term is restricted to killings undertaken by people who are actually subject to the tyrant. The term is also used to denote those who actually commit the act of killing a king: ie,Harmodius and Aristogeiton are called 'the tyrannicides'.Tyrannicide can also be a political theory. The
Monarchomachs in particular developed a theory of tyrannicide, as did the Jesuisticcasuistry , criticized by Pascal in the "Provincial Letters ". Before them, the scholastic philosopherJohn of Salisbury also legitimised tyrannicide, under specific conditions, in the "Policraticus " (circa 1159).Notable tyrannicides
Examples of some of those who died by tyrannicide include:
* Hipparchus, ruler ofAthens , murdered in 514 BC byHarmodius and Aristogeiton , the original tyrannicides.
*Julius Caesar , a Roman, was murdered byMarcus Junius Brutus andGaius Cassius Longinus , who considered the assassination tyrannicide.
*Anastasio Somoza García , dictator ofNicaragua , assassinated in 1956 byRigoberto López Pérez .
*Park Chung-hee , dictator ofSouth Korea , assassinated in 1979 byKim Jaegyu .
*Nicolae Ceauşescu , Communist dictator ofRomania , executedChristmas Day , 1989.Tyrannicides in fiction
Tyrannicide is a popular literary trope. Many works of fiction deal with the struggle of an individual or group of individuals to overthrow and kill an unjust tyrant. Often the tyranny is caused by an usurper to a royal throne, where the conclusion often restores the balance.
Children's literature frequently deals with the subject. Folk tales likeThe Nutcracker include the act, as do some video games series, like The Legend of Zelda. Classical examples in Disney animation include "The Lion King " or "The Little Mermaid" which both involve the tyrannical takeover of a monarchy. Fantasy works like "The Lord of the Rings ", "The Chronicles of Narnia ", orStar Wars also deal with killing tyrants. "V for Vendetta " is a popular comic to deal with tyrannicide. Besides "Julius Caesar", a number ofWilliam Shakespeare 's play deal with the subject, including "Hamlet ", "Macbeth ", and "The Tempest ". [cite web |url= http://rmmla.wsu.edu/ereview/60.2/reviews/rasmussen.asp |title= Tyranny in Shakespeare |first= Mary Ann |last= McGrail |work= Utah Valley State College |year= 2001 |accessdate= 2008-09-18]ee also
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Liberatores
*Regicide
*Sic semper tyrannis
*French ship Tyrannicide (1793)
*Seal of Virginia
*Selective Assassination References
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