Ancient Rome was home to a powerful and influential military force that was capable of dominating not only its immediate surroundings but also land that stretched as far away as Britain. As a result, Rome developed a well-defined system of discipline and punishment for its soldiers that varied based on the rank of the soldier and the severity of the offense. Generally, punishments could range from physical abuse, to reductions in pay and various forms of social ostracism.
The most notable type of punishment for Roman soldiers was decimation. This was reserved for cases where a whole unit of infantry was found guilty of a particularly egregious crime, like mutiny or desertion in the face of battle. Decimation meant that one-tenth of the unit was taken as a punishment and either put to death or sold into slavery. This type of punishment was meant to inspire terror in the hearts of the other soldiers so that they would never commit a crime so severe that decimation might need to be employed.
Soldiers could also face a variety of physical punishments, depending on their rank and the nature of their misdeeds. Lighter punishments included being tied to a post in view of the general public, being tied to the tails of horses and being dragged around. More severe punishments included flogging and being condemned to serve in the dreaded galleys. The severest punishments also included death by crucifixion and burning at the stake.
In some cases, the emperor himself served as the judge. He could then mete out punishments as he saw fit, with the scope and severity of the punishment often dependent on the status of the accused and the pleas made by those advocating on their behalf. However, the emperor often allowed governors and lower military tribunes to dispense their own brand of justice.
Prison was also a punishment for Roman soldiers. Dungeons in fortified fortresses served as temporary holding places for prisoners who faced different levels of confinement. They were usually held in cell-like structures and typically restrained by chains and locks. The cells were often situated in precarious positions at the fortresses, with some even hanging over the edge of cliffs or over the tops of walls. Roman prisoners were also subject to inhuman treatments, with torture often employed as part of the interrogation process.
In addition to these harsher punishments, Roman military discipline also included fines, reductions in pay and public disgrace. These punishments were used to deter misbehavior and encourage loyalty and obedience. It was also common for soldiers to be forced to live in tents or in other very basic shelters while they were on the move, with no access to regular meals. This was meant to be a form of punishment, although it was also necessary for practical reasons, as it was difficult to provide regular shelter and meals for a large military force.
The military in ancient Rome certainly did not lack for effective punishments. While modern military forces tend to focus on disciplinary training and education rather than physical punishments, ancient Rome used a broad range of methods to ensure that their soldiers kept in line or faced the consequences.
Condemned to Serve in the Dreaded Gales
One of the most severe punishments dished out to Roman soldiers was being condemned to serve in the dreaded galleys. Galley slaves, as they were often called, were taken from the military and tasked with the arduous task of rowing their owners’ ships. They were chained to their benches and forced to work for hours on end in horrendous conditions. Not only were they subjected to the physical exhaustion and brutal heat of their labor, but they were also denied any form of entertainment, and often were not even given enough food or water to survive their ordeal.
Condemned to serve in the galleys was seen as one of the most serious punishments for Roman soldiers and was often seen as a considerable deterrent for those who thought about committing a crime or disobeying orders. The threat of being condemned to the galleys was enough to keep soldiers in line and ensure that any offences were punished swiftly and severely.
Typically, galley service was only assigned as a punishment to officers and other high-ranking members of the military. The punishment was also only given after all other attempts to rectify the situation had been tried, and it was often used as a last resort. Galley service was not only seen as a punishment, but it was also seen as a way of restoring the dignity of those who had betrayed the trust of their superiors.
Galley service was a particularly effective punishment for Roman soldiers as it was seen as an example of the potentially disastrous consequences that could befall someone who chose to ignore the laws or disobey orders. This harsh punishment was meant to discourage others who were thinking of taking a similar path and show just how dedicated the Roman military was to discipline and order.
Flogging
Another severe form of punishment for Roman soldiers was flogging, often referred to by the Latin term ‘ferire’, which means to strike or beat. This punishment was usually used for minor offenses and entailed the use of whip lashes or cudgels against the offenders. Depending on the severity of the crime, the offender could be flogged multiple times and sentenced to a specific number of lashes. It was believed that this physical punishment would act as an effective deterrent to future misbehavior.
As with many of the punishments used in ancient Rome, flogging could be used on soldiers of all ranks. However, the punishment was usually more severe for higher-ranking soldiers, as their public example was meant to be a strong reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Flogging was often done in public, as a way of shaming the guilty parties and making sure that other members of the military were aware of the punishments.
In some cases, flogging was also used as a form of humiliation for soldiers who had committed major crimes, like desertion or treason. The punishment usually involved being stripped to the waist and having their bodies lashed until the offender bled or fainted from the pain. This extremely severe punishment was meant to make an example of the offender and deter others from similar offenses.
Flogging was a particularly severe punishment for Roman soldiers, and it was meant to deter any form of misbehavior. By subjecting offenders to humiliation and pain, it was believed that other soldiers would be deterred from breaking the law and disobeying orders.
Tied to the Tails of Horses
One of the less extreme punishments given out to Roman soldiers was being tied to the tails of horses. This was a form of punishment given out to soldiers who were guilty of minor offenses, such as being disrespectful to superiors or to those in higher ranks. The offender would be stripped down to their undergarments and tied to the tail of a horse. As the horse was then made to run around the camp, the soldier would be dragged behind. This type of punishment was meant to be a deterrent for minor offences, and it was also seen as a form of humiliation for the soldier who had committed the offence.
Being tied to the tail of a horse was not the most severe punishment that could be dished out to Roman soldiers, but it was still a very unpleasant experience. Not only was there the physical discomfort of being dragged along by the horse, but often the soldier would also be jeered and mocked by others who were watching this open display of humiliation.
In some cases, the offender was stripped completely naked and dragged around the camp, allowing other soldiers to laugh and jeer at the soldier’s exposed body. This was a further attempt to embarrass and humiliate the soldier, so that other members of the military would be discouraged from similar offenses.
Tied to the tail of a horse was a common form of humiliation and punishment for Roman soldiers and was used to help discourage minor offences. It was not seen as the most severe form of punishment, but it was still seen as an effective deterrent.
Reductions in Pay
In addition to the various forms of physical punishment, Roman soldiers could also face reductions in pay as a form of punishment for minor infractions. This punishment was used as a way of reprimanding soldiers for disobeying orders or committing minor offences. As a result, the soldier would be denied their full salary and instead receive only a portion of the money they were due.
The amount of the reduction was often determined by the severity of the offence, with some soldiers being denied their full salaries for months at a time. The use of such a punishment was designed to be an effective deterrent for others, as it was seen as a way of enforcing discipline without resorting to physical punishment.
In some cases, Roman soldiers were also forced to forgo their annual bonus pay as a form of punishment. This was usually reserved for more serious offences, and it often resulted in great financial hardship for the punished soldiers. The punishment was meant to be a reminder of the severity of breaking the law or disobeying orders, and it often served to deter others from similar actions.
Reductions in pay were seen as a relatively mild form of punishment for Roman soldiers, but they were still seen as an effective deterrent. By denying soldiers their expected wages, it was believed that they would be more inclined to follow the rules and adhere to military discipline.
