Spartacus Biography

Spartacus (SpartakoV, Spartacus) – leader of the slaves in the so-called war of gladiators in 73 – 71 years. BC Chr. Thracian origin, he first served in the Roman army, deserted and became a robber, but then was captured and was admitted to the gladiators. Gladiator school where he was held was in Capua, and belonged to Mr. Batiatu Lentulus, who had so cruelly treated by his gladiators that SA, with about 70 companions (Thracians, Gauls and Germans), fled from him and sat down near the Vesuvius. Soon rumors spread about the robberies committed by the Celts S. Creeks and Enom, and the number of runaway slaves and gladiators grew with each passing day. S. was a man of vigorous and courageous and distinguished by an extraordinary military experience, and even strategic talent, so that soon he was able to form from the crowds who gathered a well-organized army, with which in the course of 3 years was the terror of the Romans. Victory over the praetor Variem increased the number of rebels, who now had no less than 70000. At the end of 1973 almost all of southern Italy was in their hands. In 1972 they were sent against the consul L. Cornelius Lentulus and Gellius. S., pleased with the results, wanted to return home, but most of the troops did not agree with this. As a result, about 30,000 slaves led Creeks separated from the main squad, but were soon defeated praetor Arriem. SA is not only managed to win both the consuls, but going beyond it, one after another broke and the proconsul Cassius Longinus, and Pretoria Mr. Manley. No one now could not stop him to leave Italy and return home. However, all these victories before inspired the insurgents, what they want to learn by Rome. Like Annibale, C., however, the attacks on Rome was not done, but contented himself by pointing to the fear of the Romans their appearance and then went to Southern Italy. In this critical situation of the Senate decided to circumvent the newly appointed consul in 1971, elected chief praetor M. Krass and gave him six new legions. Roman soldiers were afraid of strong S. Krass, knowing that his legacy was divided S., commanded, by lot, select a certain number of soldiers and executed them in the presence of his comrades. This severe measure is impressed by the Roman soldiers. They have courageously pursued S. and surrounded him on all sides at the southern part of the gross. S. tried to flee to Sicily: he entered into negotiations with the pirates, with their assistance to be able to cross there. " However, pirates, getting forward the freight money – disappeared. S. was forced to enter into negotiations with Crassus and asked to grant him a free retreat, Crass sharply denied. Then S. made a desperate sortie, and penetrated. Flock rebels again flooded the whole of Italy and everywhere spread fear and horror. However, soon again separated from S. detachment, which was immediately destroyed by Romans. C. with the remnants of his army occupied a strong position near the hinges, but coaxed his party, left and joined with the Romans in a battle in which he was killed. Most of the rebels had been killed, 6000 were captured and were crucified along the road from Capua to Rome, about 5000 had fled to northern Italy, but were there defeated by Pompey, who was returning from Spain. see Schambach, "Der italische Sklavenaufstand 74 – 71 v. Chr." (BA, 1872); Hartwig, "Der Sklavenkrieg des Spartacus" (Part 1, Meiningen, 1894); F. Munzer, "Der erste Gegner des Spartacus" ("Philologus", v. 55, 1896, p. 387 cl.).