THE SCENE: The king of the Saxons had a most unorthodox strategy for securing his borders against heathen “barbarians”: put weapons into the hands of known thieves and criminals, place them close to enemy territory, and tell them to make their money against the enemy.
THE TEXT: The legion [of Merseburgers] however was made up of thieves. For although King Henry had been severe enough with foreigners, he was inclined to mercy in all cases involving his own subjects. Hence, whenever he saw anyone who was a thief or a robber, but who was strong of arm and well-suited to warfare, he forgave him his just punishment, and sent him to the suburbs of Merseberg, where he distributed lands and arms, ordering these men to commit no depredations on their fellow-citizens but to practice their robberies upon the barbarians as much as they dared. A great multitude of men of this kind was collected, and made up a full legion when prepared for an expedition.
– The Deeds of the Saxons, Widukind of Corvey, 10th Century AD
