The Theban Legion were Egyptian Christians recruited into the Roman army. In 287 on the eve of battle against the Gauls, they refused to sacrifice to the gods along with the assembled army. They were sentenced to decimation—1 in 10, drawn by lots, was to be executed.
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In this way, following their ongoing resistance, the entire Legion of 6600 was executed. Was the issue just the idolatrous oath or were there also doubts about the justice of the cause? Their leader, St Maurice: “We are your soldiers, but we are also servants of the true God....
