I was just watching part of the movie Patton on TV and a line uttered by George C. Scott leapt out at me that is quite obviously wrong. I seriously doubt that the real General George S. Patton Jr. was so historically illiterate to have made such an obvious mistake as to refer to Carthage era North African women as Arabs. (my bold emphasis added)
Patton: "It was here. The battlefield was here. The Carthaginians defending the city were attacked by three Roman Legions. Carthaginians were proud and brave but they couldn't hold. They were massacred. Arab women stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances. The soldiers lay naked in the sun, two thousand years ago; and I was here."
Arabs in North Africa during the era of the early Roman Empire? Arabic as a language didn't even exist yet. Arab military expeditions into the Maghrib (or Maghreb) began around 642 AD. By contrast, the three Punic Wars between Roman and Carthage were between 264 BC to 241 BC, 218 BC to 201 BC, and 149 BC to 146 BC with Carthage gettting sacked in the second and third wars. So Patton was referring to a sacking (not sure which one - anyone know which sacking involved 3 Roman Legions?) event that was several hundred years before there was an Arab influence in North Africa.
Posted by Randall Parker at June 24, 2004 08:56 PMWell, having read War As I Knew It (Patton's war diary)...yes, he was pretty damned ignorant about history. The quote may or may not be factual (in that Patton may or may not have actually said it; it obviously didn't happen), but certainly he wasn't knowledgeable enough to have avoided that error.
Posted by: John "Akatsukami" Braue on July 25, 2004 12:44 PMThe hell Patton was ignorant of history! He was one of the most affluent and knowledgeable officers in the history of the US on the subject of the history of war. I suggest you read a real source, like The Patton Papers, then it will be clear to you how "ignorant" he was.
Posted by: Joe Blow on November 15, 2004 12:32 PMActually, my extremely limited knowledge of Patton's writing involves a case when he deliberately fudged historical and practical details in order to get a reaction that he was after.
The case in point involved the design of cavalry swords, where Patton made up all this rubbish about straight, rapier type swords being better for cavalry use. This is not true, curves blades are preferred for horseback but Patton knew 2 things:
1. All future cavalry would be motorised, not using horses.
2. Straight blades are best for fencing, that Patton was a fan of.
Hence I would not put it past him to make a comment about arabs to affect the audience he was talking to, regardless of the historical accuracy or whether he knew about it.
Posted by: Patrick on January 9, 2005 04:12 AMHe was one of the most affluent and knowledgeable officers in the history of the US on the subject of the history of war.
I don't see what affluence has to do with anything.
Posted by: Dan on February 2, 2005 09:20 PMPatrick some cavalry swords are curved, such as those of most light cavalrymen, but many are in fact designed for thrusting not slashing and these are straight, as are most heavy cavalry swords.
Posted by: Charles on February 17, 2005 08:30 AM
Most movies of past happenings and Past heroes contain errors and some outright errors in usage of phrases which we all know are present day phrases..........the story of Patton is no different ...George C. Scott made a great Patton in spite of an alleged error.....I try to not let these errors interfere with my enjoyment of the movie......also blame the writer and director for not being on THEIR toes.....
George never said that, 'cause I have been there.
Posted by: Christopher Lee on July 18, 2005 12:01 AMProblem is that the advisor was a certain imbecile named Omar N. Bradley. Bradley loathed Patton and this might be something Bradley had changed up to make Patton look like a moron. Bradley was a politician while Patton was a soldier. Therein lies the difference that Bradley could never make up for.
Posted by: Alex on October 11, 2005 02:19 PM