Candide's punishments, do they fit the crime?

If you remind yourself that “Candide” is a satirical novel, you can easily come up with the conclusion that Candide’s punishments never fit the crimes that he commits.   The most miniscule thing that Candide did would turn into the worst crime ever committed.  On the other hand, you also have to keep in mind that things that we think are severe nowadays were normal consequences for those of the 16^th century.  Voltaire was satirizing the way people we’re persecuted in these times because everybody knew the punishments were rather extreme.  For example, in chapter two when Candied decides to go for a walk in the morning, the Bulgarian army captures him and calls him a traitor.  The soldiers took him back to the Bulgarian territory, tied him up, and whipped him 6,000 times.  You know right from the back this is an example of satire in the novel because even the more barbaric individual will agree that this punishment was a little extreme.  Even though Candide’s punishments don’t fit the crime, I can understand why some of the cruel punishments what were actually put upon people were established.  Having strict rules like that in those days was the government’s way of insuring order within the society.  If citizens knew that they would be sentenced to death for something stupid, they would probably make sure they’re on their best behavior.  There are a lot of ways Voltaire satirizes different punishments in Candied, but I think we all come to the general conclusion that Candide's punishments did not fit the crimes he committed.