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The original was posted on /r/askhistorians by /u/rymder on 2024-01-24 12:43:37+00:00.

When reading about historical battles, it seems that the winning side often aimed to maximize casualties among the defeated, as exemplified by the Carthaginians at the Battle of Cannae.

In instances where the defeated side wasn’t surrounded and attempted to retreat, was it customary for the victors to pursue them? Was killing preferred over ransoming prisoners, and were there strategic advantages associated with this choice? Furthermore, did these practices undergo significant changes during the Middle Ages and beyond?