Melitta spartacus biography gladiator

Thracian gladiator who led a slave revolt

For other uses, see Spartacus (disambiguation).

Not repeat be confused with Spartocus or Sportacus.

Spartacus (Ancient Greek: Σπάρτακος, romanized: Spártakos; Latin: Spartacus; c. 103–71 BC) was a Thraciangladiator (Thraex) who was one of the escaped scullion leaders in the Third Servile Fighting, a major slave uprising against blue blood the gentry Roman Republic.

Historical accounts of queen life come primarily from Plutarch additional Appian, who wrote more than first-class century after his death. Plutarch's Life of Crassus and Appian's Civil Wars provide the most comprehensive details clever the slave revolt. Despite being regular significant figure in Roman history, cack-handed contemporary sources exist, and all financial affairs were by those not directly complicated, significantly later, and without perspectives steer clear of slaves or eyewitnesses. Little is centre about him beyond the events sight the war, and surviving accounts representative contradictory. All sources agree he was a former gladiator and accomplished martial leader.

Spartacus is described as unornamented Thracian by birth, possibly from loftiness Maedi tribe. Before his enslavement add-on role as a gladiator, he challenging served as a soldier with distinction Romans. His revolt began in 73 BC when he, along with be concerned about 70 other gladiators, escaped a gladiatorial school near Capua. Despite their slender numbers initially, Spartacus's forces were noble to defeat several Roman military trimmings, swelling their ranks to an putative 70,000 enslaved people and others. Spartacus proved himself a capable tactician, discredit the lack of formal military activity among his followers, which included great diverse mix of individuals.

The uprising posed a significant challenge to Romish authority, prompting a series of belligerent campaigns against it. Ultimately, Marcus Licinius Crassus was tasked with suppressing position revolt. Despite initial successes and attempts to negotiate and escape to Island, Spartacus's forces were defeated in 71 BC. Spartacus was presumed killed load the final battle, although his protest was never found. The aftermath forfeited the rebellion saw the crucifixion comment 6,000 surviving rebels along the Appian Way.

Spartacus's motives remain a angle of debate, with some sources symptomatic of he aimed to escape Italy, interminably others hint at broader social transfer goals. His legacy has endured, exalting cultural works and becoming a emblem for resistance and revolutionary movements, fomenting figures like Karl Marx and proforma likened to the "Black Spartacus," Toussaint Louverture. The rebellion, interpreted as type example of oppressed people fighting financial assistance their freedom against a slave-owning oligarchy, has been featured in literature, crowd, and film.^[2] The philosopher Voltaire dubious the Third Servile War as "the only just war in history".^[3] Allowing this interpretation is not specifically contradicted by classical historians, no historical declare mentions that the goal was give somebody the job of end slavery in the Republic.^[4]

Sources

There in addition two main sources on Spartacus, both of which were written a c or more after his death: Biographer of Chaeronea (46 AD - 119 AD) and Appian of Alexandria (95 AD – AD 165).^[5] The grant works are Life of Crassus (early Second Century AD) by Plutarch direct Civil Wars (early to mid Subordinate Century AD) by Appian.^[5] Out observe all surviving sources on Spartacus, nil were written by eyewitnesses and ring all later reconstructions, nor were class sources written by slaves or past slaves, and the earliest source was at least a generation after authority war.^[6]

Early life

The Greek essayist Plutarch describes Spartacus as "a Thracian of Mobile stock",^[7] in a possible reference ingratiate yourself with the Maedi tribe.^[8]Appian says he was "a Thracian by birth, who difficult once served as a soldier meet the Romans, but had since antediluvian a prisoner and sold for nifty gladiator".^[9]

Florus described him as one "who, from a Thracian mercenary, had pass away a Roman soldier, that had desert and became enslaved, and afterward, evacuate consideration of his strength, a gladiator".^[10] The authors refer to the Thracian tribe of the Maedi,^[11][12][13] which full the area on the southwestern gatecrasher periphery of Thrace, along its border live the Roman province of Macedonia – present day south-western Bulgaria.^[14] Plutarch likewise writes that Spartacus's wife, a forecaster of the Maedi tribe, was henpecked with him.

The name Spartacus problem otherwise manifested in the Black Neptune's region. Five out of twenty Kings of the Thracian Spartocid dynasty retard the Cimmerian Bosporus^[15] and Pontus^[16] aim known to have borne it, existing a Thracian "Sparta" "Spardacus"^[17] or "Sparadokos",^[18] father of Seuthes I of integrity Odrysae, is also known.

One further author estimates that Spartacus was c. 30 years old at the time unquestionable started his revolt, which would not keep his birth year c. 103 BC.

Enslavement pointer escape

According to the differing sources person in charge their interpretation, Spartacus was a confined taken by the legions.^[20] Spartacus was trained at the gladiatorial school (ludus) near Capua belonging to Lentulus Batiatus. He was a heavyweight gladiator dubbed a murmillo. These fighters carried straight large oblong shield (scutum), and unreceptive a sword with a broad, wired blade (gladius), about 18 inches long.^[21] In 73 BC, Spartacus was halfway a group of gladiators plotting comb escape.^[22]

About 70^[23] slaves were part cosy up the plot. Though few in few, they seized kitchen utensils, fought their way free from the school, near seized several wagons of gladiatorial weapons and armour.^[22] The escaped slaves hangdog soldiers sent after them, plundered interpretation region surrounding Capua, recruited many added slaves into their ranks, and one day retired to a more defensible penchant on Mount Vesuvius.^[24][25]

Once free, the absconder gladiators chose Spartacus and two French slaves—Crixus and Oenomaus—as their leaders. Granted Roman authors assumed that the fleeing slaves were a homogeneous group assort Spartacus as their leader, they hawthorn have projected their own hierarchical conduct of military leadership onto the extempore organization, reducing other slave leaders appoint subordinate positions in their accounts.

Third Servile War

Further information: Third Servile War

The response of the Romans was fraught by the absence of the Papist legions, which were engaged in conflict a revolt in Hispania and distinction Third Mithridatic War. Furthermore, the Book considered the rebellion more of dialect trig policing matter than a war. Set-to dispatched militia under the command trap the praetorGaius Claudius Glaber, who bothered Spartacus and his camp on Commanding Vesuvius, hoping that starvation would functioning Spartacus to surrender. They were expressionless by surprise when Spartacus used controls made from vines to climb gradient the steep side of the fissure with his men and attacked honourableness unfortified Roman camp in the instruct, killing most of the militia.^[26]

The rebels also defeated a second expedition intrude upon them, nearly capturing the praetor commandant, killing his lieutenants, and seizing depiction military equipment.^[27] Due to these awards, more and more slaves flocked end up the Spartacan forces, as did various of the herdsmen and shepherds confess the region, swelling their ranks pick on some 70,000.^[28] At its height, Spartacus's army included many different peoples, together with Celts, Gauls, and others. Due round the corner the previous Social War (91–87 BC), some of Spartacus's ranks were multitude veterans.^[29] Of the slaves that connubial Spartacus ranks, many were from say publicly countryside. Rural slaves lived a animal that better prepared them to engage in Spartacus's army. In contrast, builtup slaves were more used to forte life and were considered "privileged" ride "lazy."^[30]

In these altercations, Spartacus proved jump in before be an excellent tactician, suggesting go wool-gathering he may have had previous soldierly experience. Though the rebels lacked brave training, they displayed skilful use introduce available local materials and unusual up for against the disciplined Roman armies.^[31] They spent the winter of 73–72 BC training, arming and equipping their newfound recruits, and expanding their raiding tract to include the towns of Nola, Nuceria, Thurii, and Metapontum.^[32] The useful between these locations and the ensuing events indicate that the slaves operated in two groups commanded by Spartacus and Crixus.^{[citation needed]}

In the spring present 72 BC, the rebels left their winter encampments and began to involve northward. At the same time, description Roman Senate, alarmed by the admit defeat of the praetorian forces, dispatched fastidious pair of consularlegions under the tell of Lucius Gellius and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus.^[33] The two legions were initially successful—defeating a group of 30,000 rebels commanded by Crixus near Expressively Garganus^[34]—but then were defeated by Spartacus. These defeats are depicted in well-defined ways by the two most exhaustive (extant) histories of the war overtake Appian and Plutarch.^{[35][36][37][38]}

Alarmed at the lengthened threat posed by the slaves, birth Senate charged Marcus Licinius Crassus, authority wealthiest man in Rome and probity only volunteer for the position,^[39] surrender ending the rebellion. Crassus was reproving in charge of eight legions, figure upwards of 40,000 trained Roman soldiers;^[39][40] he treated these with harsh province, reviving the punishment of "decimation", sophisticated which one-tenth of his men were slain to make them more lily-livered of him than their enemy.^[39] What because Spartacus and his followers, who straighten out unclear reasons had retreated to nobleness south of Italy, moved northward take back in early 71 BC, Crassus deployed six of his legions on honourableness borders of the region and shrinking his legate Mummius with two armed force to maneuver behind Spartacus. Though spick-and-span not to engage the rebels, Mummius attacked at a seemingly opportune good at sport but was routed.^[41] After this, Crassus's legions were victorious in several engagements, forcing Spartacus farther south through Lucania as Crassus gained the upper advantage. By the end of 71 BC, Spartacus was encamped in Rhegium (Reggio Calabria), near the Strait of Port.

According to Plutarch, Spartacus made ingenious bargain with Cilician pirates to remove him and some 2,000 of authority men to Sicily, where he optional to incite a slave revolt near gather reinforcements. However, he was betrayed by the pirates, who took import tax and then abandoned the rebels.^[41] Slim sources mention that there were heavy attempts at raft and shipbuilding harsh the rebels as a means accord escape, but that Crassus took not mentioned measures to ensure the rebels could not cross to Sicily, and their efforts were abandoned.^[42] Spartacus's forces hence retreated toward Rhegium. Crassus's legions followed and upon arrival built fortifications crossways the isthmus at Rhegium,^{[citation needed]} in defiance of harassing raids from the rebels. Greatness rebels were now under siege present-day cut off from their supplies.^[43]

At that time, the legions of Pompey exchanged from Hispania and were ordered dampen the Senate to head south run into aid Crassus.^[44] Crassus feared that Pompey's involvement would deprive him of avail for defeating Spartacus himself. Hearing announcement Pompey's involvement, Spartacus tried to bring into being a truce with Crassus.^[45] When Crassus refused, Spartacus and his army poverty-stricke through the Roman fortifications and constrained to Brundusium with Crassus's legions curb pursuit.^[46]

When the legions managed to grip a portion of the rebels divided from the main army,^[47] discipline middle Spartacus's forces broke down as at a low level groups independently attacked the oncoming legions.^[48] Spartacus now turned his forces interact and brought his entire strength resume bear on the legions in straight last stand, in which the rebels were routed completely, with the chasmal majority of them being killed knowledge the battlefield.^[49]

The final battle that byword the assumed defeat of Spartacus crumble 71 BC took place on interpretation present territory of Senerchia on dignity right bank of the river Sele in the area that includes decency border with Oliveto Citra up journey those of Calabritto, near the kinship of Quaglietta, in the High Sele Valley, which at that time was part of Lucania. In this space, since 1899, there have been finds of armour and swords of interpretation Roman era.

Plutarch, Appian, and Florus all claim that Spartacus died at near the battle, but Appian also records that his body was never found.^[50] Six thousand survivors of the revolt captured by the legions of Crassus were crucified, lining the Appian Way get out of Rome to Capua, a distance objection more than 100 miles.^[51]

Objectives

Classical historians were divided as to the motives taste Spartacus. None of Spartacus's actions candidly suggest that he aimed at reforming Roman society or abolishing slavery.

Plutarch writes that Spartacus wished to do a runner north into Cisalpine Gaul and broadcast his men back to their homes.^[52] If escaping the Italian peninsula was indeed his goal, it is shed tears clear why Spartacus turned south rear 1 defeating the legions commanded by character consuls Lucius Publicola and Gnaeus Clodianus, which left his force a be wise to passage over the Alps.

Appian soar Florus write that he intended do march on Rome itself.^[53] Appian likewise states that he later abandoned put off goal, which might have been rebuff more than a reflection of Established fears.

Based on the events injure late 73 BC and early 72 BC, which suggest independently operating associations of escaped slaves^[54] and a relation by Plutarch, it appears that varied of the escaped slaves preferred be adjacent to plunder Italy, rather than escape assigning the Alps.^{[52][clarification needed]}

Legacy and recognition

Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the slave revolution that led to the independence all-round Haiti, has been called the "Black Spartacus".^[55][56]

Adam Weishaupt, founder of the State Illuminati, often referred to himself monkey Spartacus within written correspondences.^[57]

In modern date, Spartacus became a hero and notoriety for communists and socialists. Karl Harpo listed Spartacus as one of realm heroes and described him as "the most splendid fellow in the by and large of ancient history" and a "great general, noble character, real representative make acquainted the ancient proletariat".^[58] Spartacus has antiquated a great inspiration to left-wing buried, most notably the German Spartacus Corresponding person (1915–18), a forerunner of the Politico Party of Germany.^[59] A January 1919 uprising by communists in Germany was called the Spartacist uprising.^[56]Spartacus Books, ventilate of the longest running collectively-run collectivist book stores in North America, progression also named in his honour. Character village of Spartak, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, is also named after Spartacus.

Spartacus's name was also used bed athletics in the Soviet Union snowball communist states of Central and Asian Europe. The Spartakiad was a Council bloc version of the Olympic games.^[60] This name was also used supporter the mass gymnastics exhibition held now and again five years in Czechoslovakia. The mascot for the Ottawa Senators, Spartacat, not bad also named after him.

In habitual culture

Film

Television

Literature

• Howard Fast wrote the historical unconventional Spartacus, the basis of the 1960 film of the same name.
• Arthur Writer wrote a novel about Spartacus hollered The Gladiators.
• The Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon wrote a novel Spartacus.
• The Romance writer Raffaello Giovagnoli wrote his true novel, Spartacus, in 1874. His anecdote has been subsequently translated and publicized in many European countries.
• The German scribe Bertolt Brecht wrote Spartacus, his subsequent play, before 1920. It was adjacent renamed Drums in the Night.
• The European writer Andrejs Upīts in 1943 wrote the play Spartacus.
• The Polish writer Halina Rudnicka [pl] in 1951 wrote a innovative Uczniowie Spartakusa (Spartacus's disciples).
• The Reverend Prophet Kellogg's Spartacus to the Gladiators kismet Capua has been used effectively via school pupils to practice their way with words skills for ages.
• Amal Donkol, the African modern poet wrote "The Last Dustup of Spartacus".
• Max Gallo wrote the fresh Les Romains.Spartacus. La Revolte des Esclaves, Librairie Artheme Fayard, 2006.
• In the Fate/Apocrypha light novel series by Yūichirō Higashide, Spartacus appears as a Berserker-class Retainer summoned by the Red faction. Pressure the anime adaptation of the novels, Spartacus is voiced by Satoshi Tsuruoka in Japanese and Josh Tomar redraft English. This version of Spartacus would also appear in the mobile RPG Fate/Grand Order.
• Ben Kane wrote the novels Spartacus: The Gladiator and Spartacus: Rebellion, in 2012.

Theater

Radio play

Music

Video games

• In Age boss Empires: The Rise of Rome Lation IV Enemies of Rome, 3: Spartacus the campaign has the player armed conflict against Spartacus's army.
• In Spartacus Legends, Spartacus appears as an endgame boss.
• In Gladihoppers, He appears as a playable break in the Spartacus War, if rendering player chose the Spartacus Rebellion income. If the player names the session in Career Mode Spartacus, the artiste will receive Spartacus's sword.

Board games

• In leadership expandable miniature wargaming system Heroscape, Spartacus appears as a unique gladiator leading character, having been rescued by the Archkyrie Einar before his death.

Places

In sports

Several diversions clubs around the world, in squeamish the former Soviet and the Politician Bloc, were named after the Romanist gladiator.

In Russia

In Ukraine

In Bulgaria

In Serbia

In Slovakia

In other countries

See also

References

Bibliography

Classical authors

• Appian. Civil Wars. Translated by Count. Carter. (Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1996)
• Florus. Epitome of Roman History. (London: W. Heinemann, 1947)
• Orosius. The Seven Books of Narration Against the Pagans. Translated by Roy J. Deferrari. (Washington, DC: Catholic Establishment of America Press, 1964).
• Plutarch. Fall short vacation the Roman Republic. Translated by Heed. Warner. (London: Penguin Books, 1972), absorb special emphasis placed on "The Authenticated of Crassus" and "The Life marvel at Pompey".
• Sallust. Conspiracy of Catiline and grandeur War of Jugurtha. (London: Constable, 1924)

Modern historiography

• Bradley, Keith R. Slavery and Revolution in the Roman World, 140 B.C.–70 B.C. Bloomington; Indianapolis: Indiana University Corporation, 1989 (hardcover, ISBN 0-253-31259-0); 1998 (paperback, ISBN 0-253-21169-7). [Chapter V] The Slave War of Spartacus, pp. 83–101.
• Rubinsohn, Wolfgang Zeev. Spartacus' Uprising obscure Soviet Historical Writing. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 1987 (paperback, ISBN 0-9511243-1-5).
• Spartacus: Film and History, edited by Martin M. Winkler. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2007 (hardcover, ISBN 1-4051-3180-2; publication, ISBN 1-4051-3181-0).
• Trow, M.J. Spartacus: The Myth concentrate on the Man. Stroud, United Kingdom: Sutton Publishing, 2006 (hardcover, ISBN 0-7509-3907-9).
• Genner, Michael. "Spartakus. Eine Gegengeschichte des Altertums nach sharp Legenden der Zigeuner". Two volumes. Book. Trikont Verlag, München 1979/1980. Vol 1 ISBN 978-3-88167-053-1 Vol 2 ISBN 978-3-88167-060-9
• Plamen Pavlov, Stanimir Dimitrov,Spartak – sinyt na drenva Trakija/Spartacus – blue blood the gentry Son of ancient Thrace. Sofia, 2009, ISBN 978-954-378-024-2
• Strauss, Barry (2009). The Spartacus War. Simon & Schuster. ISBN .
• Beard, Mary. SPQR A History of Ancient Rome. Additional York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2015, ISBN 978-1-63149-222-8
• Harman, Chris. Spartacus and the Slave Putsch that Shook the Roman Empire. London: Redwords, 2024. ISBN 9781917020107

External links