I wonder why more people tend to ignore the obvious parallels between the Garleans and Romans when talking IRL inspirations. For all we know, the forced rape we heard about once in ARR was something the lower level soldiers took part of? And the brainwashing thing might have been a VIIth legion thing. I mean, Nael was brainwashed and Tempered, maybe this compelled him to Temper other soldiers? Nothing really shows them being state sanctioned like others have said. The Romans conscripted soldiers from the territories they captured, but they tended to reward service to the Empire with citizenship that afforded them certain rights and privileges that non-citizens didn't get. So far our picture of Garlemald is biased in Eorzea's favor, just like how our view of the Dravanians and Ishgard were colored by lack of information.