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  • Ah that word. Decimate - to destroy or kill one tenth of.

    Decimated - Roman military term to describe an act of punishment where a disgraced legion who had been felt to under perform in battle, or were guilty of mutiny, were divided into groups of 10 and forced to draw lots the individual who the lot fell on was then executed by his 9 other comrades by stoning or clubbing. The system of drawing lots meant that anyone could be executed irrespective of rank or achievement, although the leadership was normally executed independently of the decimation. For the surviving legionaries other punishment was attached including stigma, downgraded rations, and the right to sleep within Roman military establishments withdrawn.

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