Crassus was the wealthiest man in Rome.  Before he joined the First
Triumvirate with Pompey and Caesar, he struggled to make a name for
himself.  His big break came with the outbreak of the Third Servile
War, when Spartacus led a slave rebellion throughout the Italian
Peninsula.  Spartacus and his men wreaked havoc throughout the region,
defeating several Roman legions.  Although his original plan was to
escape to Gaul and head home, Spartacus decided to head south towards
Sicily.  However, his transport (the Cilician Pirates) failed to arrive
in time, and Crassus was able to bring his legions in from behind to
trap Spartacus.  In the ensuing battle, Spartacus was killed and many
more slaves were crucified.  Crassus achieved some fame but in the end,
his career would pale in comparison to Pompey and Caesar.  He was
killed in Parthia after a failed showing at the Battle of Carrhae by
having molten gold poured down his throat.



For more information, read:

Plutarch’s Lives (http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/crassus.html)

http://www.livius.org/so-st/spartacus/spartacus.html





Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazines.