Vae victis

Vae victis (IPA: [ˈwai ˈwiktiːs]) is Latin for "woe to the vanquished", or "woe to the conquered". Victis is the dative plural form of victus; the dative singular forms of the phrase are vae victo (masculine & neuter) & vae victae (feminine). The phrase serves to remind that those defeated in battle are entirely at the mercy of their conquerors and should not expect—or request—leniency.