La leyenda aragonesa que cuentas es en realidad una modificación de la vieja leyenda de Tarquinio el soberbio, el último rey de Roma. En ese caso en vez de coles, eran las amapolas que sobresalían entre la hierba de su jardín (y se segaban con una espada). Desde entonces se le llama "síndrome de las amapolas" cuando la violencia (o la represión) se ejerce contra los que pueden capitanear una revuelta, más que sobre toda la revuelta en sí.

Eso sólo demuestra que los reyes aragoneses eran muy cultos y se conocían la historia de Roma.

Arg. Con lo vulnerable que estoy estos días, encima me tiras mis mitos infantiles por los suelos. ¿Tienes alguna referencia sobre el tema?

Creo que lo cuenta Tito Livio (perdonad que esté en inglés, no he sido capaz de encontrarlo en castellano):

When he thought himself strong enough to succeed in anything that he might attempt, he sent one of his friends to his father at Rome to ask what he wished him to do now that the gods had given him sole and absolute power in Gabii. To this messenger no verbal reply was given, because, I believe, he mistrusted him. The king went into the palace-garden, deep in thought, his son's messenger following him. As he walked along in silence it is said that he struck off the tallest poppy-heads with his stick. Tired of asking and waiting for an answer, and feeling his mission to be a failure, the messenger returned to Gabii, and reported what he had said and seen, adding that the king, whether through temper or personal aversion or the arrogance which was natural to him, had not uttered a single word. When it had become clear to Sextus what his father meant him to understand by his mysterious silent action, he proceeded to get rid of the foremost men of the State by traducing some of them to the people, whilst others fell victims to their own unpopularity. Many were publicly executed, some against whom no plausible charges could be brought were secretly assassinated. Some were allowed to seek safety in flight, or were driven into exile; the property of these as well as of those who had been put to death was distributed in grants and bribes. The gratification felt by each who received a share blunted the sense of the public mischief that was being wrought, until, deprived of all counsel and help, the State of Gabii was surrendered to the Roman king without a single battle.

jcantero, eres un cortarrollos, con lo bien que quedaba la leyenda. Ahora además de mentira (bueno, medio mentira, se cree que los decapitó pero sin consultar a nadie ni convocarlos ni nada) no es original :-

Draco: }:-)