In 73 BC, at a gladiatorial school in Capua, a plan was made. The school's owner, Lentulus Batiatus, trained men to die for entertainment, but about 70 of them decided to fight for their own freedom. Led by a Thracian named Spartacus, the desperate men had no access to combat gear. They stormed the kitchens, armed themselves with knives and sharpened spits, and fought their way past the guards into the streets. On their way out of the city, they seized a wagon full of gladiatorial weapons. The small band of escapees retreated to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius to establish a camp. Their numbers quickly grew as they liberated slaves from nearby estates, forming the seed of an army that would soon shake Rome itself.
Spartacus
Spartacus, the Thracian gladiator who led a slave army against Rome from 73 to 71 BC, and what we can and can't know about him.
Chapter 1
The Kitchen Knives of Capua
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Part of
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Spartacus really want to end slavery in Rome?
There is no evidence that Spartacus or his followers intended to abolish the institution of slavery. Surviving historical accounts, all written by Romans, suggest their primary goal was personal freedom. They marched to escape Italy, not to overthrow the Roman system itself.
How did a gladiator manage to defeat Roman legions?
Spartacus's army used clever tactics, like rappelling down cliffs at Mount Vesuvius to surprise a Roman force. This victory also allowed them to capture high-quality Roman military equipment, replacing their gladiatorial gear and making them a much more effective fighting force.
What happened to Crassus after the war?
Marcus Licinius Crassus was denied a full triumph because he had defeated slaves, not a foreign army. Despite this, his victory increased his political influence in Rome. He would later form a political alliance with his rival Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar.
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