Spartacus by Captivating History

Author:Captivating History
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Captivating History
Published: 2020-02-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9 – Defeat

When spring came again in 71 BCE, both Crassus and Spartacus were on the move.

Spartacus’ goal at this point in time is uncertain, although he may well have been trying to march on Rome; his men left Thurii and headed northward, their ranks swollen with numbers, steel weapons gleaming in the hands of each rebel soldier. Three long years of war had beaten Spartacus’ army from a rag-tag bunch of escaped slaves into a real military force, good enough to beat even Rome’s best. Now, he moved them toward Lucania, where they had fought that glorious victory against Varinius in the very first year of the war. Perhaps the soil upon which so much Roman blood had been spilled would prove to be a good battleground once more.

Crassus’ goal, on the other hand, is abundantly clear. He wanted to stop Spartacus, and he wanted to do it as quickly and gloriously as possible. As his practice of decimation had proven, Crassus wouldn’t let mere ethics or moral issues stand in his way. He wanted victory, he wanted it fast, and he wanted it at all costs.

When Spartacus’ army began to move, Crassus moved just as quickly. He arrayed six of his eight legions along the borders of Picenum, near Picentia, and remained in command of them. The other two legions were entrusted to Crassus’ legate, a man named Mummius. Some sources say that these were the very same legions that had once been commanded by the two consuls, the legions that had let Rome down once before. And they were about to do it again.

Spartacus and his men continued to journey north, possibly to Rome or maybe back to the Alps. Perhaps Spartacus had finally managed to convince his wayward army that going home was better than any amount of glory. Or maybe he, too, now believed that Rome was theirs for the taking. Either way, they moved north, just as Crassus had anticipated. Soon, it began to appear to Spartacus that they had no choice except to keep going north. He was likely unaware of Crassus’ position at Picentia, but he did know that there was a Roman army following him and that they were very close behind.

Mummius and both his legions had taken a long, circular route around Spartacus’ forces. They were now shadowing Spartacus from the south, trying to pressure him into moving more and more northward and straight into the open arms of Crassus and the bulk of the Roman army. Crassus hoped that the sight of two legions—around 10,000 men—would be enough to spook Spartacus into moving faster north. He did give Mummius strict orders, however, not to engage Spartacus under any circumstances. Those same legions had suffered a humiliating defeat under greater commanders than just a legate, as two consuls together hadn’t been able to make them beat Spartacus. “Not even a skirmish,” Crassus had ordered Mummius sharply.

Unfortunately for Crassus, Spartacus’ men knew full well that they’d already fought and beaten two Roman legions, and Mummius’ men didn’t exactly strike fear into their hearts.

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