PugJesus could probably go into more detail, but it was a very rare and extremely serious punishment - partly or mostly because they were the ones that had to beat their own buddies to death.
Yeah, basically nearly every time it actually happened, it was major enough to be put in Roman histories. Individual soldiers getting executed was something that happened, but for decimation to be deployed, things had to be really fucked.
Isn’t there a story of this one legion that was decimated many times over? You seem knowledgeable about this, please inform me :)
Not to my immediate recollection, though I’m no professional. Might be one out there, though if there is, they probably lost any distinguishing titles they had (such as Legio I Augusta losing ‘Augusta’ after a humiliating defeat against Iberian peoples).
Yeah, basically nearly every time it actually happened, it was major enough to be put in Roman histories. Individual soldiers getting executed was something that happened, but for decimation to be deployed, things had to be really fucked.
Isn’t there a story of this one legion that was decimated many times over? You seem knowledgeable about this, please inform me :)
Also: I can’t even imagine the punishment it must be to even draw lots over who will be executed…
Not to my immediate recollection, though I’m no professional. Might be one out there, though if there is, they probably lost any distinguishing titles they had (such as Legio I Augusta losing ‘Augusta’ after a humiliating defeat against Iberian peoples).