Roman Decimation: The Grim Reality of Blood on the Standards
Reading Time: 9 minutes Probably nothing throughout military history conjures up such horror as when Rome used decimation as punishment. Decimation originated during ancient Roman times. It was a punishment of the cruelest sort, highlighting how terrifyingly far Roman military leadership would go to instill discipline in its troops.
The Roman Army has been, for obvious reasons, a topic of interest for many centuries now. Many more have attempted to emulate its structure and strategies. An important, but far less savory, part of Roman military life was discipline, and the fear that discipline, or rather its complete lack, would lead to execution, meant that the Roman legions were rather formidable to those outside it. Methods of discipline ranged from flogging to fines to a fate worse than death. A term familiar to many, though not many people know its exact meaning, is decimation.
Roman legions were drilled and regimented in their daily lives, but also, if this were not enough to scare people into being loyal and quick to obey, stepping out of line could mean death. This introduction will provide an overview of how, under threat of execution, decimation, and other disciplinary methods, the Roman legions went on to build an empire that continues to fascinate many people today.
The Harrowing Practice of Decimation
The Romans used Decimation as a method of discipline, brutal as it was simple. At its most traditional, decimation was a punishment used by the Roman Army against entire units or large groups of soldiers who had committed particularly egregious acts of misconduct, such as mutiny, desertion, or cowardice. Each of these men was divided into groups of ten. Within each group, lots were drawn, and the soldier who drew the short straw was put to death by his nine companions, generally by being clubbed, stoned, or stabbed to death. The rationale behind such an extreme punishment was not only to rid the army of weak elements but also to terrify the remaining soldiers into obedience and loyalty.
The fear of decimation was a powerful motivator for Roman soldiers. It not only created a constant sense of dread but also fostered a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual responsibility among them. The fact that a soldier’s life could depend not only on his own actions but also on those of his comrades made peer pressure an incredibly effective tool for maintaining discipline and order. Soldiers knew that their lives could literally be in each other’s hands, which made them more likely to look out for one another and work together to ensure everyone’s survival. This was particularly important in an army that had to maintain cohesion and morale over vast distances and for extended periods.
The use of decimation, however, was inconsistent over time and across commanders. Some commanders used it liberally to maintain strict discipline, while others used it sparingly, knowing it could lead to resentment and hopelessness among the troops. Some commanders, such as Julius Caesar, were known to avoid it altogether in favor of other methods of discipline that did not demoralize their troops.
Nevertheless, the threat of decimation underscored a simple but effective message for soldiers under the Roman military machine: neither failure nor disobedience would be tolerated. As we delve further into the historical examples and consequences of decimation, it becomes clear that this practice was more than just a punishment; it was a reflection of the Roman military culture, where the standards of discipline and the consequences of failing to meet them were as daunting as the legions themselves.
The Dawn of Dread: The First Recorded Decimation
One of the first known uses of decimation dates back to 471 BC in the newly formed Roman Republic. This period in Roman history was marked by war against neighboring peoples and independent city-states. One of Rome’s greatest enemies throughout its long history was the Volsci tribe. Roman citizens and soldiers frequently faced conflict with this tribe. The historian Livy gives a description of decimation being used under Consul Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis. After a devastating battle against the Volsci, the Romans were routed and fled the field of battle in disgrace.
Following the debacle, Consul Appius Claudius executed centurions, standard-bearers, and soldiers who were thought to have deserted or thrown down their weapons during the battle. These soldiers were beaten and beheaded as an example to the rest of the Army. After these men were killed, every tenth man in the entire Army was chosen by lot. These men were then killed by their fellow soldiers.
The Roman Republic period of history laid the foundations of many events that transpired through the next couple thousand years of the empire. The use of decimation started off as a horror show to incite permanent fear into the hearts of their soldiers.
Echoes of Severity: Notable Instances of Roman Decimation
Decimation occurred at various points throughout Roman history, but not regularly. The earliest surviving account of decimation is recorded by Greek historian Polybius, writing in the early 3rd century BC. He described how: If there were too many offenders to admit of execution, they cast lots by centuries, cohorts, or other divisions, as the mischief had happened, and killed every tenth man, who was pointed out by the officers. These were clubbed to death by their comrades.’
There are numerous historical accounts of decimation carried out during battles or military campaigns. Alexander the Great threatened to decimate his army corps of 6,000 men who refused to fight due to a lack of discipline and drive.
Caesar threatened to carry out decimation upon the 9th Legion during his war with Pompey, but did not do so as he feared it would hurt morale.
Decimation returned to prominence during the Third Servile War of 71 BC. As Marcus Licinius Crassus was putting down the slave rebellion led by Spartacus, he decided that discipline within his legions had to be restored after their earlier routs at Spartacus’s hands. He chose 500 men at random from the survivors of two legions and split them into groups of 50. Both groups were then decimated, and each set of nine remaining men was forced to club their chosen victim to death. It is argued that this punishment was partially responsible for the victories that followed for Crassus.
Decimation was still used occasionally during the Roman Empire. Emperors Augustus (in 17 BC), Galba, and Lucius Apronius in AD 20, after suffering defeat at the hands of Tacfarinas, are recorded as having ordered a decimation. However, according to G.R. Watson, “…the institution of decimation was surely bankrupt. A professional soldier was unlikely to kill his comrade without just cause…”
A less severe punishment called ‘centesimatio’ was introduced during the rule of Emperor Macrinus in the third century. Instead of executing every tenth man, the penalty now consisted of killing every 100th man. It is thought this was done in acknowledgment of how devastating the practice was on morale and ability to maintain large numbers of fighting men.
A Dark Revival: Decimation in the 17th century
In the seventeenth century, the practice of decimation was revived. During the Thirty Years’ War, many armies were hard to discipline. Soldiers could consist of mercenaries, conscripts, or both. Commanders feared that troops who panicked in battle would rout, causing mass casualties. As a result, commanders attempted to implement measures to keep their soldiers in line. Ancient punishments such as decimation became commonplace again. Whole units would suffer horribly if they proved cowardly or broke ranks.
After the Battle of Lützen in 1632, Von Sparr’s cuirassier regiment from Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim’s corps fled the battlefield. Emperor Wallenstein was furious and ordered a court-martial. It sentenced the officers and some troopers to death by beheading and hanging. The rest of the regiment was decimated. One tenth of the regiment was hanged, and the rest flogged, branded with hot irons, and outlawed. An executioner burned the regimental standards before their eyes.
After the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1642, Colonel Madlo’s cavalry regiment panicked and ran from the battlefield. Their flight contributed to a panic that would result in their side’s total defeat. A court-martial convened by Leopold Wilhelm in Prague sentenced the regiment to disarmament and dishonor. Its ensigns were torn from its colors, its name stricken from the army’s roll call, its officers beheaded, its junior officers hanged, and its soldiers decimated. The survivors of the regiment were shamefully expelled from the Army.
Additionally, ninety men were decimated at Rokycany in western Bohemia by beheading and hanging. They were thrown into a mass grave, which can still be visited today. It is known as the Black Mound.
A Shadow Over Centuries: The Continued Practice of Decimation
One of these revivals took place during the Paraguayan War. On September 3, 1866, after running away without firing a shot in the Battle of Curuzu, members of the 10th battalion of the Paraguayan army had a decimation carried out on them by order of Lopez. In front of the battalion, every tenth man was killed by a firing squad.
During World War I, on September 20, 1914, a company of Tunisian tirailleurs in France who refused an order to attack was decimated by order of their divisional commander; ten men were executed, showing this practice was still enforced across centuries and continents far removed from one another.
While serving with Luigi Cadorna’s Italian Army during World War I, soldiers suspected of cowardice were supposedly subjected to decimation, though Cadorna usually ordered summary executions. It is true that there was at least one true occurrence of decimation in the Italian Army. On 26 May 1916, after murdering officers and fellow soldiers who didn’t mutiny, a 120-man strong company of the 141st Catanzaro Infantry Brigade was decimated: 10% of its soldiers were shot dead.
Decimation was also carried out against enemies. In 1918, during the Finnish Civil War, White troops captured about 80 Reds after conquering the city of Varkaus, which had sided with the Reds. They carried out what became known as the ‘Lottery of Huruslahti’, where one out of every ten prisoners was chosen at random and shot. However, rank and other factors affected who was chosen.
Reflecting on a Legacy of Fear and Discipline
The specter of decimation looms large, a grim reminder of how desperation and fear can drive leaders to employ terrifying measures against those they command. From its inception in ancient Rome to its sporadic application in later centuries, including the punitive acts during conflicts such as the Thirty Years’ War and as far into the 20th century, decimation serves as a stark testament to the extremes of military discipline. It underscores a chilling facet of human nature and governance, revealing how individuals in positions of power can resort to barbarity to quell insubordination and assert control.
In pondering the brutal legacy of decimation, one cannot help but reflect on the evolution of military justice and the progress humanity has made towards more humane forms of discipline. Today, such practices are rightfully condemned and seen as anathema to civilized society and ethical military conduct. Yet the recurrence of decimation throughout history serves as a potent reminder of the dark potential inherent in military power.
