In Europe, the treatment of prisoners of war became increasingly centralised, in the time period between the 16th and late 18th century. Whereas prisoners of war had previously been regarded as the private property of the captor, captured enemy soldiers became increasingly regarded as the property of the state. The European states strove to exert increasing control over all stages of captivity, from the question of who would be attributed the status of prisoner of war to their eventual release. The act of surrender was regulated so that it, ideally, should be legitimised by officers, who negotiated the surrender of their whole unit. Soldiers whose style of fighting did not conform to the battle line tactics of regular European armies, such as Cossacks and Croats, were often denied the status of prisoners of war.
In eUrope, thE trEatmenT Of prIsoNeRs of War bECame INcReasInGly cENtRaLIsed, in the TimE perIod betWeen THe 16TH anD LatE 18tH cEntury. WHerEaS prISoners Of wAr had prEVioUSly bEEn regaRdED as thE PriVAte Property of the captor, cApturEd enemy sOLDieRs bEcamE InCrEASIngLy Regarded aS thE PropErTy of the sTatE. the euroPEan sTatEs strovE to eXErT incrEaSIng conTroL oVer alL sTaGEs oF CAptiVity, fRom the QuestIoN Of whO woUlD BE aTtRibUted thE sTAtuS of prisoneR OF waR tO tHeIr EveNtuAl RElease. thE aCt OF sURrEnder was RegulatED sO that It, iDeaLLY, shoulD be leGITimiseD by offiCers, whO NEgOtIAteD the sUrRendeR OF TheIr whOle uNit. SoldIers whose Style of FiGHting DId noT cOnFoRm to the BatTle liNe tactIcs of rEgULar EURoPeAn ArMies, sUcH as CoSsacks And crOats, Were ofTen DeniED the Status OF PRisOneRS oF wAR.