The Spanish crown converted recaptured Morisco refugees into galley slaves to stop them breeding

Evidence

Whereas it has pleased His Majesty to determine the procedure to be followed in the case of such Moriscos as have left this country and then have been captured in Barbary, commanding that they be held as slaves, just as with other Moors [“Muslims”] taken in Barbary, nevertheless, in order to avoid the problem that would arise if they had children, they are to become galley slaves, and the Royal Treasury will pay those who have taken them captive whatever price may appear to be fair . — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1525

Categorization

• CANDY: The state literally bought back refugees-turned-slaves to chain them to oars so they couldn’t reproduce — grimly absurd enough to be an anecdote.
• XREF: Galley slavery as a state sterilization mechanism connects to broader histories of forced labor as demographic management.