Sometimes, governments and the people disagree on the aims that are worth pursuing. Therefore, sometimes people are happy and grateful to know that someone is brave enough to stand up to the government. This is the case in this example. A convicted traitor would be someone who betrayed the government by going against its wishes. However, he could still be glorified if he fought for a popular cause.
If European states were organized along national lines, then the states would work together and that would create a peaceful Europe. But they were wrong..
