What is the meaning of ‘Tyrannicide’?

Tyrannicide, (Pronounced: Tuh · ra · nuh · side) is the killing or assassination of a tyrant or unjust ruler, purportedly for the common good. In the Classical period, tyrannicide had been legally permitted, and encouraged.

Throughout history, many leaders have died under the excuse of tyrannicide. Hipparchus, one of the last Greek leaders to use the title of "tyrant," was assassinated in 514 BC by Harmodius and Aristogeiton, the original tyrannicides.

Another example for tyrannicide was the assassination of Julius Caesar by Marcus Junius Brutus.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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12 Comments

Robert Mookerdum

The most recent was Libya's dictator Cöl. Gaddafi and before that was Nikolai Ceaucescu of Romania.

Corey Taylor

Not quite an assassination, but we helped the Iraqi people with tyrannicide when our military killed Uday and Qusay Hussein, then captured Saddam. They took over in convicting him of Crimes Against Humanity, leading to his execution. They ain't missed!

✨KRISTA✨

I can think 💬 of a few! (American) 2023.

elizawheeler

This is a true ethical dilemma. Premeditated killing is wrong. A leader terrorizing and killing his/her people is wrong. Sometimes it really does come down to the lesser of two evils. Obviously, the better choice is prison, but that's not always possible.

Cheryl Maxwell

Nero, as well.

Marianne

C, Jagoda, the assassination of Gaius Iulius Caesar was not a tyrannicide. He had been recently named “dictator in perpetuity” of the Roman Republic. Some 60 members of the Senate, feared that he also planned to claim the title of king, overthrow the Senate and rule as a tyrant. They plotted his assassination 'just in case'. The senators’ concerns may have been misplaced: Suetonius, writing nearly 150 years later, reported that, as the fateful day approached, a crowd shouted to him rex (“king”), to which Caesar replied, “I am Caesar, not rex.”

Marianne

Robert Mookerdum, Gaddafi was mortally wounded either by a French plane or a U.S. Predator drone. A NATO official confirmed it. The Lybian fighters also have different versions of events. Lybia is now a junkyard.