Could an ancient or mediaeval state make it so that instead of for example, blinding poachers and cutting the hands off thieves , they could be sent to the equivalent of the Game of Thrones Night's Watch? And if so, what would this Night's Watch be used for?
WI there was a real life Night's Watch?
- Thread starter The Ranger
- Start date
The only example that comes to mind is China... They already have a great wall after all
Make the mongols/manchu/turks more of a nuisance to where some Emperor or another decides to fully man (and probably rebuild and expand in places) the wall, before realising just how much of a task that would be. In the end he resorts to allowing pardons for lesser crimes in exchange for serving 🤷♂️
France, Spain, and the Knights Hospitaller often used condemned criminals as galley slaves to provide manpower to their galleys. Louis XIV (not medieval, but...) actually penned a letter to French judges asking that they sentence men to life in the galleys, rather than to death. Galley slaves go back to ancient times, too.
Another idea might be some form of Knightly Order where condemned men are used either as forced labor or as manpower, but I'm not sure how it could come about. Certainly, the hardened criminals couldn't become knights or anything like that, but could serve as basic infantry. Certainly, during the Crusades a lot of the various knight orders controlled various castles; there's also the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Knights who were functioning states. Unsure how you could bring it about though.
Another idea might be some form of Knightly Order where condemned men are used either as forced labor or as manpower, but I'm not sure how it could come about. Certainly, the hardened criminals couldn't become knights or anything like that, but could serve as basic infantry. Certainly, during the Crusades a lot of the various knight orders controlled various castles; there's also the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Knights who were functioning states. Unsure how you could bring it about though.
Reminds me of the Order of Saint Lazarus - the so-called 'Leper-Brothers', so there is a historical basis for the undesirables of the world forming a military group of some sort
Yes, exactly so. I believe the Order of Saint Lazarus was originally a nursing order, so they primarily dealt with leper hospitals, but they allegedly took on some sort of military role later on
Leonard of Noblac is considered the patron saint of prisoners / criminals; he apparently was in the habit of taking prisoners and criminals under his care at Noblac, provided them with land and care to try and reform them. He became especially venerated after Bohemond of Antioch was released from prison in 1103, he believed it because of his intercession. Maybe some kind of Order of Saint Leonard that becomes focused on prisoners / criminals / other undesirables.
- Catholic Church using penal battalions to defend the Crusader States as a "penance" for their crimes.
- Roman Governor of Britain could do this for Hadrian's Wall if he's short on Legions.
- Obviously China vs nomads along the Great Wall
- Roman Governor of Britain could do this for Hadrian's Wall if he's short on Legions.
- Obviously China vs nomads along the Great Wall
That's what the idea behind the Province of Georgia was, a buffer zone settled by debtors that would defend against Spanish attacks. Reason why they had a lot of strict laws (such as the prohibition of alcohol) and banned slavery at first.
Last edited: