Third Servile War Essay Example

sent two consular legions, led by Lucius Gellius Publicola and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. Initially, they triumphed over a large battalion of 30,000 slaves under the guidance of Crixus near Mount Garganus. However, they later faced defeat by Spartacus. These said defeats have been portrayed in varying manners in the two exhaustive (surviving) historical accounts of the war by Appian and Plutarch.

Reacting to the seemingly relentless revolt, the Senate entrusted Marcus Licinius Crassus, Rome's richest man and only volunteer for the role, to put an end to the uprising. Crassus was given authority over eight legions, equating to roughly 40,000-50,000 trained Roman troops, whom he governed with stern and sometimes savage discipline, re-establishing the punishment of decimation. Spartacus and his followers, whose retreat to southern Italy was inexplicable, began to move northward again in early 71 BC. In response, Crassus positioned six legions at the regional boundaries and dispatched his legate Mummius with two legions to flank Spartacus. Despite instructions not to confront the slaves directly, Mummius struck when he sensed a favorable moment but ended up being defeated.

In the subsequent period, Crassus' armies emerged victorious in several battles, forcing Spartacus to retreat through Lucania as Crassus secured an advantage. By 71 BC, Spartacus set up a camp near the Strait of Messina, in Rhegium (now known as Reggio Calabria). Plutarch recounts that Spartacus negotiated a deal with Cilician pirates to ferry him and about 2,000 of his followers to Sicily. His plan was to spark a slave uprising and amass additional forces. However, his plan was foiled when the pirates, upon receiving their payment, deserted Spartacus and his rebel slaves.

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the rebels tried their hand at building rafts and ships with the hope of escaping. However, Crassus intervened with unspecified strategies to prevent them from successfully crossing over to Sicicly, causing their endeavours to fail. The troops of Spartacus were then forced to retreat toward Rhegium. Following on their heels, Crassus' legions and upon reaching, constructed barricades across Rhegium's isthmus, undeterred by the disruptive raids from the insurgent slaves. Consequently, the rebels found themselves under siege and their supply lines severed. This marked the downfall of Spartacus.

The Senate ordered the legions of Pompey, returning from Spain, to march southward and lend support to Crassus at this juncture. On one hand, Crassus was uncertain about Pompey's arrival potentially depriving him of his victory credits, on the other, Spartacus was unsuccessful in his bid to negotiate a deal with Crassus. Following Crassus' rejection, some of Spartacus' forces took to the mountains west of Petelia (today's Strongoli) in Bruttium while being pursued by Crassus' legions. As a part of Spartacus' forces were separated from the main body and trapped by the legions that resulted in disarray amongst his troops who began launching individual attacks against the advancing legions.

In a final effort, Spartacus regrouped his troops and faced the legions, culminating in an intense confrontation where the slaves were utterly defeated with most meeting their demise on the battleground. While what happened to Spartacus remains a mystery due to his body never being located, historians generally agree that he fell during the combat alongside his troop. Following the conflict, the legions of Crassus captured 6,000 surviving participants of the rebellion and subjected them to crucifixion, their bodies marking the

Appian Way from Rome to Capua.