That’s what happens when you allow yourself and your people to be disarmed and won’t fight back when it starts.
There’s a book called “And Not A Shot Was Fired” by Jan Kovacs.
It’s worth reading. It’s more of an instruction manual...
The UK went off the rails under King James when it started rounding up Presbyterians and others who would not embrace the Anglican faith. That was put to rest under the Glorious Revolution, but maybe the rot stayed and was always there.