Historiae Romanorum

Spartacus

? - 71 BC

Spartacus was a Thracian gladiator, who led seventy of his comrades in a revolt from a gladiatorial school in Capua in 73 BC.  Slaves and the very poor from the surrounding countryside flocked to his army, which is said to have number over 75,000.  At first Spartacus enjoyed success, defeating several hastily gathered Roman armies.  At last, however, he was defeated by the army of Crassus in 71 BC.  Spartacus himself was killed in the battle, and all prisoners taken by Crassus were crucified.  Several thousand managed to escape north, only to be killed by an army of Pompey, who then took credit for defeating Spartacus.

This page was last updated on September 08, 2004.