Slave insurrections were not really new to Rome. The very name of the slave rebellion’s leader, Spartacus, generated terror. News of atrocities against slaveholding landowners dominated conversation in Rome’s marketplaces and public buildings. The vaunted Roman legions had been defeated, their noble standards captured. Rome trembled at the grave rumors in 73 BC that the city was about to be attacked by a rabble army of gladiators and rebelling slaves. He has often been made into a symbol for oppressed people rebelling to overturn their society, but in point of fact he tried to lead his army to safety and freedom for themselves outside Rome’s reach and never attempted to overthrow Roman society. The story of Spartacus has served as inspiration for books, movies and a television series. Some 6,000 rebellious slaves were crucified as a warning to others. Spartacus was killed, but his body was never found. After a long period of pursuit and a few engagements, the slave army was defeated near the headwaters of the Siler River in southern Italy. A new Roman military force, under a competent commander named Marcus Crassus, was sent to deal with the rebellious slave army. Spartacus won three more engagements and then, for unknown reasons, turned south instead of crossing the Alps, throwing Rome into panic. Crixus broke off from the main force, taking 30,000 men with him and began raiding the countryside until he was defeated and killed. One of his co-commanders, Crixus, wanted to attack Rome itself, where large numbers of slaves would likely swell their ranks even more. Spartacus advocated crossing the Alps to put distance between the army and Rome and find freedom. More slaves joined at its peak, the army is believed to have been 90,000–120,000 strong.
Initially, Rome did not regard the slave army as a serious force and did not send first-line troops against it Spartacus’ army outmaneuvered and defeated the first four forces it confronted. Spartacus is believed to have been the leader of the gladiators’ revolt, and he shared leadership of the slave army with two Gauls, Crixus and Oenamus. Taking refuge on Mount Vesuvius, the gladiators trained the others in at least rudimentary combat skills. In 73 BC (BCE), he escaped from a gladiatorial training school at Capua along with some 70 other gladiators.
What is known is that he was captured and sold into slavery. It is generally believed he deserted, and some sources say he led bandit raids. Spartacus may have served in the Roman Army. Little is known about his life before he became one of the slave leaders in the Third Servile War, the slave uprising war against the Roman Republic. Spartacus summary: Spartacus was a Thracian gladiator.