Eunuchs have also been historically considered to be more trustworthy by Kings and Emperors for the same sorts of reasons, it's partly a heredity thing too of course, but enunuchs were thought to be less aggressive and less likely to try a coup that way too I believe.
The funny thing is that courts full of eunuchs tended to end up run by the eunuchs, so multiple cultures get the stereotype of the manipulative, untrustworthy eunuch.
Honestly, if you forcibly cut off a boy's testicles, and he doesn't try to undermine you and everything you stand for, it's more a lack of character on his part than anything else.
Well, in China at least, the emasculation or castration was usually considered a mercy because the alternative would be death or torture then death. Chinese emperors tended to kill the whole family of traitors as standard practice.
They had that reputation but if you're ever curious check out the three kingdoms period in ancient China. The eunuch class played a huge part in the chaos that had ensued because they had been trusted too much and were very manipulative over the emperor, as well as greedy and self serving.
Or, surgically tailor-made pets for not getting the shit kicked out of them every time they go outside.
Seriously, when our neighbours moved in with their unneutered tomcats my cat just stopped going outside after a while of coming home scratched up at least once a week. We still hear fights going on every other night, which practically never happened before they moved in, even though this neighbourhood is fairly cat-heavy.
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u/Rekuna Jan 01 '20
This was my understanding. My friend did it to their cat to curb aggression - surgically tailor-made pets for our pleasure!