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Warfare History

15 Marches That Broke Men’s Feet and Souls

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8. The Roman Decimation Marches

decimation by william hogarth (beaver's roman military punishments, chapter 4, 1725)
Decimation. Etching by William Hogarth in Beaver’s Roman Military Punishments (1725). Source: Wikipedia

In ancient Rome, decimation was the ultimate punishment for cowardice or failure: every tenth soldier was executed by his comrades. The survivors were then forced to march under degrading and brutal conditions, often deprived of food and shelter. This practice shattered morale and cohesion, serving as a grim warning to others and leaving lasting psychological scars on those who endured it. World History Encyclopedia

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