Most benign treatment imaginable of defeated high-profile "traitors" (rebels,separatists,etc.)?

Fenestella

Banned
Given the ruthlessness and vindictiveness of most regimes before 1900, what would be the most lenient treatment a high-profile "traitor" (rebel,separatist,etc.) could receive after being defeated and captured by the regime?

Was the Union's treatment of Robert E. Lee among the most benign imaginable?
 
Given the ruthlessness and vindictiveness of most regimes before 1900, what would be the most lenient treatment a high-profile "traitor" (rebel,separatist,etc.) could receive after being defeated and captured by the regime?

Was the Union's treatment of Robert E. Lee among the most benign imaginable?
And after 1900 and in the 21st Century regimes were less ruthless and vindictive ?
 
Not sure it counts, but there was when Blood tried to steal Charles II Crown Jewels. Dented the orb, smashed the crown, and sawed the scepter in half. On average, each of those pieces of regalia alone cost as much as a battleship back then. He gave him a title and land.
 
I have the impression that on average, pre-modern regimes' codified torture & execution methods for "high treason" were much worse than their modern counterparts'.
Julius Caesar was notable for his forgiveness to Roman political and military opponents. Not of course so much to non romans whether in Gaul or hunting pirates in the Mare Nostrum
 

Skallagrim

Banned
Julius Caesar was notable for his forgiveness to Roman political and military opponents. Not of course so much to non romans whether in Gaul or hunting pirates in the Mare Nostrum

True, but a factor there was that he didn't see them as traitors. Rather, he (correctly) identified his enemies as rivals for power, who had been just as legitimate or illegitimate as he himself had been, and who had just so happened to lose. It was the simple fact of his victory that differentiated him from them, and he knew it. In no way were his opponents "traitors".

(Side note: his forgiveness of his political enemies sure came back to bite him, in any case!)
 
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