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* A RealLife example would be the British Army of the Napoleonic era. Almost entirely made up of the lowest orders of society anyway, convicted criminals made up perhaps a third of the manpower. Their commander in the Peninsular Wars, Sir Arthur Wellesley, described them as, "the scum of the Earth".
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* A RealLife example would be the British Army of the Napoleonic era. Almost entirely made up of the lowest orders of society anyway, convicted criminals made up perhaps a third of the manpower. Their commander in the Peninsular Wars, Sir Arthur Wellesley, described them as, "the scum of the Earth". Though he also added, "It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them".
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, [[LandDownUnder bushwhackers]], hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], [[BadAss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, [[LandDownUnder bushwhackers]], [[DepravedHomosexual buggerers]], bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], [[BadAss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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* In Assassin's Creed II Ezio assembles a (literal) army of thieves and whores (and mercenaries) to oppose Borgia rule.
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, [[DownUnder bushwhackers]], hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], [[BadAss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, [[DownUnder [[LandDownUnder bushwhackers]], hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], [[BadAss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, [[DownUnder bushwhackers]], hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], [[BadAsss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, [[DownUnder bushwhackers]], hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], [[BadAsss [[BadAss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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correcting a blue link and adding some
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, [[DownUnder bushwhackers]], hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader [[ButchLesbian bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers]], ass-kickers, [[BadAsss ass-kickers]], shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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* In ''The Darren Shan Saga'', the vampeze get around their strict refusal to use projectile weapons by hiring human thugs and cutthroats. Debbie and Alice eventually come up with the idea for the vampires to join forces with humans for the same purpose. Those humans mostly end up being homeless people. It's justified because those are the people the vampeze are feeding off of, so they're only too happy to have a shot for revenge.
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
->'''Taggart:''' [finding pen and paper] Could you repeat that, sir?
->'''Taggart:''' [finding pen and paper] Could you repeat that, sir?
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, {{bounty hunter}}s, desperados, [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], [[BankRobbery bank robbers, robbers]], ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
->'''Taggart:''' [finding pen and paper] [[TheLongList Could you repeat that,sir?sir]]?
->'''Taggart:''' [finding pen and paper] [[TheLongList Could you repeat that,
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An army of thieves and whores is a military force made up of the lowliest dregs of society. There's slaves, beggars, prostitutes, robbers, criminals, outcasts, renegades, carnies, backstabbers, and in general everybody you wouldn't expect to see in a proper army.
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An army of thieves and whores is a military force made up of the lowliest dregs of society. There's slaves, beggars, prostitutes, prostitutes ([[SonOfAWhore and their kids]]), robbers, criminals, outcasts, renegades, carnies, backstabbers, and in general everybody you wouldn't expect to see in a proper army.
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*In Naruto, the Villain of the Week Zabuza is forced to team up with Naruto and company to take down an army of these after his employer betrays him.
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* The eponymous team of ''TeamFortress2'' consists of a hoodlum, a game hunter, a pyromaniac, a crazed soldier, a chain-smoking assassin, a saw-wielding quack, a drunken swordsman, a Russian boxer, and a shotgun-toting Texan with a robot arm.
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* The eponymous team of ''TeamFortress2'' consists of a hoodlum, a game hunter, a pyromaniac, a crazed civilian who believes he's a soldier, a chain-smoking assassin, a saw-wielding quack, a drunken swordsman, a Russian boxer, and a shotgun-toting Texan with a robot arm.
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* Another real life example is the Dirlewanger Brigade of the Waffen-SS from ''{{World War 2}}'. The unit was originally made up of poachers, but was ultimately ranked with any criminals or mental patients the SS could find.
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* Another real life example is the Dirlewanger Brigade of the Waffen-SS from ''{{World War 2}}'.2}}''. The unit was originally made up of poachers, but was ultimately ranked with any criminals or mental patients the SS could find.
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* Another real life example is the Dirlewanger Brigade of the Waffen-SS from ''{{World War 2}}'. The unit was originally made up of poachers, but was ultimately ranked with any criminals or mental patients the ''{{SS}}'' could find.
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* Another real life example is the Dirlewanger Brigade of the Waffen-SS from ''{{World War 2}}'. The unit was originally made up of poachers, but was ultimately ranked with any criminals or mental patients the ''{{SS}}'' SS could find.
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* Another real life example is the Dirlewanger Brigade of the Waffen-SS from ''{{World War 2}}'. The unit was originally made up of poachers, but was ultimately ranked with any criminals or mental patients the ''{{SS}}'' could find.
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* NormMacdonald's character from ''DirtyWork'' at the end has a crack team assembled of senior citizens, homeless dudes, and "my loyal army of prostitutes", the latter two of which counted as a ChekovsGun each.
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* NormMacdonald's character from ''DirtyWork'' at the end has a crack team assembled of senior citizens, homeless dudes, and "my loyal army of prostitutes", the latter two of which counted as a ChekovsGun ChekhovsGun each.
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, [[DumbleMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, [[DumbleMuscle [[DumbMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits]], vipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers]], bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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thought I\'d add some blue links
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the west. Take this down.
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the west. [[LongList Take this down.down]].
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, [[DumbleMuscle mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, dimwits]], vipers, snipers, [[ColdSniper snipers]], [[ConArtist con men, men]], Indian agents, [[{{bandito}} Mexican bandits, bandits]], muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], [[TrainJob train robbers, robbers]], bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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* Gaius Marius' legion in ''Emperor: The Gates of Rome'' is viewed by the more conservative Romans due to Marius abolishing the land requirement for entry, bringing in numerous poor citizens who otherwise would have had no means of supporting themselves. [[AFatherToHisMen And they love him for it]].
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* Gaius Marius' legion in ''Emperor: The Gates of Rome'' is viewed by the more conservative Romans due to Marius abolishing the land requirement for entry, bringing in numerous poor citizens who otherwise would have had no means of supporting themselves. [[AFatherToHisMen And they love him for it]]. In the second book, Spartacus' slave army also qualifies.
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** From the same universe, the Imperial penal legions follow this trope straight, being armies primarily conscripted from the inmates of Imperial prisons. When the Planetary Defense Force contributions to the Imperial Guard from worlds that serve as incarceration centers, the line between "penal legion" and "Guardsmen" become indistinct.
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The French Foreign Legion is often characterised this way, both in fiction and real life.
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The [[LegionOfLostSouls French Foreign Legion Legion]] is often characterised this way, both in fiction and real life.
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** The Argentinian navy in the 19th Century was something of this, too. In fact, because most of the convicts that comprised his crews wouldn't remember the sails names, but were experts at card games, Admiral Brown had the sails renamed to cards names.
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* A RealLife example would be the British Army of the Napoleonic era. Almost entirely made up of the lowest orders of society anyway, convicted criminals made up perhaps a third of the manpower. Their commander in the Peninsular Wars, Sir Arthur Wellesley, described them as, "the scum of the Earth".
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* The Night's Watch in ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' are like this; most of its members are criminals whose crimes were pardoned in return for joining, and many of the willing volunteers are misfits of some sort.
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* The Night's Watch in ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' are like this; most of its members are criminals whose crimes were pardoned in return for joining, and many of the willing volunteers are misfits of some sort. Most people in Westeros consider service on the Wall to be essentially a glorified penal colony. After thousands of years without even seeing The Others they're supposed to defend the Wall from, the Night's Watch has become ridiculously underfunded, to the point that of the 19 forts in the Wall, they can barely man 3 of them by the time the story begins.
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An army of thieves and whores is a military force made up of the lowliest dregs of society. There's slaves, beggars, prostitutes, robbers, criminals, outcasts, renegades, backstabbers, and in general everybody you wouldn't expect to see in a proper army.
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An army of thieves and whores is a military force made up of the lowliest dregs of society. There's slaves, beggars, prostitutes, robbers, criminals, outcasts, renegades, carnies, backstabbers, and in general everybody you wouldn't expect to see in a proper army.
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** This is, as the page quote suggests, an evil version.
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* ''PhulesCompany'' has the Omega Company. In the Space Legion in general asking about a recruit's past is a big taboo, and "Omega" is the unofficial "dumping ground" for commanders willing to get rid from recruits they deem unsuitable. Their own sergeant noted that the result "looks more like a schoolyard" and "separated the problem Legionnaires into two groups: the wimps and the hard cases". That is, either unable to function in an army (or society in general) or inveterate criminals. Then the protagonist business shark [[KickedUpstairs promoted]] to command this mob thought it's not as bad as it looks...
--> '''Phule''': It's been done before. Specifically the Devil's Brigade... the first Special Service force, which eventually became...
-->'''Beeker''': The Special Forces. Yes, I'm familiar with the unit. If I might point out, however, that was a joint U.S.-Canadian force. At the beginning, the Americans provided a motley assortment of rejects and criminals, as opposed to the Canadians, who donated a crack fighting unit. While you definitely have your allotment of criminals, I fear you're lacking the offsetting crack fighting unit to serve as an example.
--> '''Phule''': It's been done before. Specifically the Devil's Brigade... the first Special Service force, which eventually became...
-->'''Beeker''': The Special Forces. Yes, I'm familiar with the unit. If I might point out, however, that was a joint U.S.-Canadian force. At the beginning, the Americans provided a motley assortment of rejects and criminals, as opposed to the Canadians, who donated a crack fighting unit. While you definitely have your allotment of criminals, I fear you're lacking the offsetting crack fighting unit to serve as an example.
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* The eponymous team of ''TeamFortress2'' consists of a hoodlum, a game hunter, a pyromaniac, a crazed soldier, a chain-smoking assassin, a saw-wielding quack, a drunken swordsman, a Russian boxer, and a shotgun-toting Texan with a robot arm.
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers, and ''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and Methodists]].
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking shit-kickers, and Methodists]].''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Methodists]]!''
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* [[strike:Hedy]] Hedley Lamarr organizes one of these for the climactic battle in ''BlazingSaddles''.
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* [[strike:Hedy]] [[strike:[[HedyLamarr Hedy]]]] Hedley Lamarr organizes one of these for the climactic battle in ''BlazingSaddles''.
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Click the edit button to start this new page.
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->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the
->[Taggart looks for a pen and paper while Hedley talks]
->'''Hedley Lamarr:''' I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, [[HeteronormativeCrusader bull dykes]], train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and Methodists]].
->'''Taggart:''' [finding pen and paper] Could you repeat that, sir?
-->-- ''BlazingSaddles''
An army of thieves and whores is a military force made up of the lowliest dregs of society. There's slaves, beggars, prostitutes, robbers, criminals, outcasts, renegades, backstabbers, and in general everybody you wouldn't expect to see in a proper army.
Generally, these guys will be the heroes, because UnderdogsNeverLose. In most cases, they're some sort of [[LaResistance rebel army]] opposing their [[TheEmpire imperial oppressors]], who will of course be well-ordered, disciplined, and often respectable. There may also be a theme of uniting the downtrodden to stand against their oppressors.
The French Foreign Legion is often characterised this way, both in fiction and real life.
See also RagtagBunchOfMisfits for s smaller-scale version.
----
!!Examples:
* The [[TropeNamer name comes from]] the rebel army raised against the tsar in ''NikolaiDante'', which does indeed consist mostly of robbers, prostitutes, pirates, and various people the tsars have trodden on.
* The Lost and the Damned in the ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' universe are a villainous (well, [[BlackAndGreyMorality more villainous than usual]]) version - they make up various Chaos armies, and are composed of mutants, murderers, heretics, and assorted scum of the Empire.
* Gaius Marius' legion in ''Emperor: The Gates of Rome'' is viewed by the more conservative Romans due to Marius abolishing the land requirement for entry, bringing in numerous poor citizens who otherwise would have had no means of supporting themselves. [[AFatherToHisMen And they love him for it]].
* Since Marius also appears the the ''MastersOfRome'' series, his legion fulfils a very similar role, and plays a key role in the first book.
* Temujin's (Genghis Khan's) forces in ''[[{{Conqueror}} Wolf of the Plains]]'' starts out as one of these, as he initially builds up his forces by recruiting the various outcasts and nomads who would otherwise have nobody to stand with.
* The Night's Watch in ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' are like this; most of its members are criminals whose crimes were pardoned in return for joining, and many of the willing volunteers are misfits of some sort.
* The prisoners from the Impel Down escape in ''OnePiece.''
* NormMacdonald's character from ''DirtyWork'' at the end has a crack team assembled of senior citizens, homeless dudes, and "my loyal army of prostitutes", the latter two of which counted as a ChekovsGun each.
* In one of the ''{{Spellsinger}}'' novels, the communist dragon Falameezar rallies the world's [[ButtMonkey rats and mice]] to rise up against oppression.
* [[strike:Hedy]] Hedley Lamarr organizes one of these for the climactic battle in ''BlazingSaddles''.
* The slave army in ''{{Spartacus}}'' qualifies as this trope. In this case, however, the army loses.
* In ''UnLunDun'', Deeba's army of rebels starts with the... extreme shoppers, and works its way up from there.
* MichaelMoorcock's short story "To Rescue Tanelorn''. Narjhan raises an army of beggars from Nadsokor and leads them to attack the city of Tanelorn.
* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' adventure [=CM=]1 ''Test of the Warlords''. The domain ruler Longtooth has "Longtooth's Legion", an army of 500 thieves armed with bows and swords.
