SPARTACUS c.109 - 71 BC Thracian Gladiator Spartacus was born in Thrace, became a soldier, and was captured by the Romans. He was sold as a slave to be made a gladiator. With 70 comrades, he escaped, hid on Mount Vesuvius, and raised a large army of rebel slaves. With his army he defeated two Roman legions. Spartacus intended to lead the slaves over the Alps and out of Italy, but the slaves forced him to march on Rome. A fresh Roman army under Crassus finally defeated Spartacus and his men.
After his defeat, 6000 men were crucified
along the Via Appia as a warning to other slaves.
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