Intelligence gathering through spies is as old as time itself. The Ancient Romans infiltrated enemy territories as ‘speculatores’. Tudor England had ‘spymasters’ that used networks of informers to protect the interests of the crown.
Fast forward to the 20th century, and espionage becomes even more complex. In response to WWI, global spy networks rose up, sparked by international conflicts and emergent technologies that would change the world forever. Here, we highlight the 7 iconic spies that have unravelled the mystery in life and fiction:
Dušan Popov (1912-1981)
Born in Serbia, Dušan Popov served as a secret agent for MI6 throughout World War II. In 1941, Popov pulled off the greatest moment in his espionage career. 4 months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Popov uncovered intel that exposed their plan and alerted the FBI in August that year.
Frustratingly, the FBI’s director at the time, Edgar Hoover, didn’t trust Popov. It is believed that the American authorities didn’t act on the information as a result.
However, this didn’t douse the flame of Popov’s influential espionage career. While it’s rumoured that Ian Fleming based his smooth-talking spy hero James Bond on the legendary Christopher Lee, Popov is the more likely contender. During his time in intelligence, Popov operated alongside Fleming, who was then serving as a Naval Intelligence Officer!
George Smiley (1961 – )
Now for an iconic fictional hero.
George Smiley is perhaps the best of all fictional spies. First appearing in John le Carré’s novel Call for the Dead (1961), Smiley is an erstwhile spymaster. For a time, he is the most powerful secret figure in the Cold War, and his most extraordinary power: he is “breathtakingly ordinary.”
Smiley is an unlikely protagonist, a presiding hero and a bringer of light. He has appeared in no less than nine of le Carré’s novels to date, and his legend continues to loom throughout the world of espionage.
Brought to life more recently in the brilliant Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 2011 film adaptation, Smiley’s character has endured to become what Hercule Poirot is to the detective genre.
Belle Boyd (1844 – 1900)
The greatest spies of all time come from all kinds of backgrounds, and the best assume the role of “chameleon” throughout their careers to unearth secrets that would cripple empires. Maria Isabella Boyd or ‘Belle’ was one such person.
Considered one of the most notorious Confederate spies during the American Civil War, Belle launched her career after a violent altercation with a Union soldier, where she shot him dead.
Instead of facing arrest, Belle was recruited by the Confederates and went on to have a remarkable career in espionage. She famously charmed Union soldiers and officials to unwittingly spill all their strategic secrets.
Her most significant moment came during her imprisonment. Despite the circumstances, Belle managed to extract intelligence from the Union guard residing over her cell. She later reflected on that moment and shared, “I am indebted for some very remarkable effusions, some withered flowers, and a great deal of important information” from the very soldier who held her captive.
Jack Ryan (1984 – )
Another dynamite fictional hero. Considered the ultimate crime thriller hero, Tom Clancy’s most famous spy, Jack Ryan, has thwarted crime on a truly global scale.
First appearing in the marvellous Hunt for Red October (1984), Ryan is involved in the most incredible chase in history as the Americans fight for Russia’s ultra-secret missile submarine.
Whether Ryan’s taking on the enmity and hatred of a nation’s most dangerous men in Patriot Games or uncovering a dangerous plot from within the CIA in Clear and Present Danger, he brings all the fire in these real-world mysteries soaked in political intrigue.
Fritz Joubert Duquesne (1877 – 1956)
South Africa’s Fritz Joubert Duquesne witnessed unbearable atrocities at the hands of the British Army during the Boer War. The final straw was when his mother and sister were detained in a concentration camp.
Enraged by the things he had witnessed, Duquesne was vehemently anti-British, making him an asset to the Germans after he was recruited as a spy during WWI.
Duquesne masqueraded as a scientist during his espionage days to gain access to British vessels. He extracted valuable information that could have turned the war in Germany’s favour for good.
His dark deeds didn’t stop there. Many believe Duquesne detonated bombs on several British ships throughout his career. The most pivotal? His part in sinking HMS Hampshire in 1916, where Britain’s Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, was infamously killed.
Mata Hari (1876 – 1917)
The real-life Black Widow?
Mata Hari was born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle in Holland in 1876 and would later become one of the most pivotal spies in history.
During WWI, Hari styled herself as an exotic dancer with Indonesian royal heritage. Her racy live performances made her an on-stage sensation. Mysterious and seductive, her fabricated upbringing was the perfect cover for her real career as a spy.
Like the harbinger of death itself, Hari worked on behalf of the Germans during WWI. She is thought to be responsible for 50,000 deaths due to the military secrets she gained through her intelligence. Her cover at the time? An elite courtesan preying on highly influential lovers from around the globe.
Hari’s enduring legacy is now synonymous with the art of seduction and luring subjects into the spider’s snare to spill all their secrets.
Ethan Hunt (1996 – )
It’s been nearly 30 years since we first encountered Ethan Hunt lowering himself into an impenetrable chamber. He remains one of the most significant landmarks of recent espionage pop culture.
Immortalised by Tom Cruise, Hunt first appeared in Mission Impossible (1996) and has since continued to subvert ridiculous situations with a wealth of gadgets to intimidate Bond alongside his brilliant team of misfit spies.
So there you have it. 7 deadly spies from real life and fiction. Whether they’re using their seductive powers to extract information or are the erstwhile spymaster to shake a nation. These iconic espionage heroes and villains changed the world.
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