Spartacus, a Thracian man, wasn't born to wealth or power. Furthermore, it is here where Spartacus began his rebellion with the escape of about 70 slaves. Find out more about how the BBC is covering the. Read more. Strauss points out that he had killed his horse before the battle and probably did not embellish his armor. The name Spartacus is otherwise manifested in the Black Sea region. Roman slave and gladiator, and leader of a famous slave revolt. On their way, Spartacus and his co-leaders, Crixus and Oenomaus, raided for supplies and recruited slaves in the countryside. This left Spartacus with no choice but to take his force north to face a Roman leader more ruthless than any he had encountered before. Spartacuss rebel army swelledas it became a magnet for the disaffected. Spartacuss strategy appears to have been two-fold, use his cavalry to attack Crassuss archers and missile throwers while Spartacus would lead his infantry in an attempt to kill Crassus himself, hoping to break up his army. Likewise, most major battles that take place in the show actually took place in real life. Though the rebels lacked military training, they displayed skilful use of available local materials and unusual tactics against the disciplined Roman armies. The Romans, still in camp, never saw them coming. The writer Plutarch, who lived in the second century A.D., wrote that she was a prophetess who was possessed by ecstatic frenzies that were part of the worship of the god Dionysus. After Spartacus woke up with a snake coiled around his head she declared that this was the sign of a tremendous and fearsome power that would bring him to an unfortunate end (translation by Brent Shaw, from the book "Spartacus and the Slave Wars: Brief History with Documents," Bedford/St.Martins, 2001). Jack is an avid reader and writer with a plethora of works in all genres. New York, Additionally the Roman governor of Sicily, Gaius Verres, had fortified some of the best landing spots. Andy Whitfield, the British star of US TV drama Spartacus: Blood and Sand, has died at the age of 39. Even emotions like fear, anxiety or anger are shaped by these beliefs: he has wronged me, so I am right to seek revenge; I am going to die, and this is bad, so I am right to feel fear, etc. Each man may have commanded 10,000 troops. Why were the legionaries so successful, and how did they maintain that success for several centuries? When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Whitfield died on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, 18 months after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, his family and manager said. People worship the gods Ceres and Bacchus for the external bounties of grain and wine. Dan has his regular catch-up with Simon Elliott on all things Roman. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. What happened next is hard to explain. He has become a modern-day inspirational figure. Soon after, he escaped with about 70 other gladiators and gathered his followers on nearby Mount Vesuvius. Spartacus eventually managed to break through Crassuss trap by filling in one his trenches (allegedly with human bodies) and using his cavalry to punch through. With around 3,000 Romans in pursuit, the escapees headed for Mount Vesuvius, where heavy forest provided cover. Andy Whitfield as Spartacus. Spartacus was trapped between two armies likely equipped with better arms and armor then he had. At this point, many of the herdsmen and shepherds from the surrounding regions hard-bodied and swift-footed men came to join the slaves.. He was an inspiration to many slaves who . He also revived a practice called decimation where units that ran away from the enemy would draw lots and have a random number of soldiers killed by being clubbed or stoned to death. Not a lot is known about Spartacus' early life. Not much is known about the birth and early life Spartacus. The Roman legions eventually defeated and crucified thousands of them, and Spartacus was killed in battle in 71 BC. By the spring of 72 B.C., Spartacus may have had 40,000 troops, some of which stayed in south Italy with his co-leader Crixus while the remainder advanced towards the Alps under the command of Spartacus. In modern times, Spartacus became an icon for communists and socialists. Regardless of his true death, the story of Spartacus ends after the Third Servile War. Gellius then proceeded to advance on Spartacus from the south while Lentulus, who was apparently ahead of Spartacus, drove in from the north. The show plays out a lot of similar battle strategies used by the Romans and depicts the results rather accurately. The slaves managed to break through the fortifications that Crassus had built to trap them, but were pursued to Lucania where the rebel army was destroyed. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 12:15. Whitfield died on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, 18 months after being diagnosed with non . When did Spartacus sell slavery? [50][clarification needed], Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the slave revolt that led to the independence of Haiti, has been called the "Black Spartacus". While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Throughout his rebellion, his army spent much of its time in rural areas and small towns, places that were poorly defended but had an abundance of slaves. truly, this world is little better than an arena in which gladiators kill and die for the others sport etc. We can readily imagine the kinds of beliefs a person in Andy Whitfields situation could have formed, absent philosophical direction: What have I done to deserve this? And how much I am losing how many years rightfully mine? Sources differ on why Spartacus took this course of action. Spartacus was around 30 years old at the time he started his revolt,[17] which would put his birth year around 103 BC. Tristan Hughes is joined by Peta Greenfield to talk through the history of the Vestal Virgins. By the end of 71 BC, Spartacus was encamped in Rhegium (Reggio Calabria), near the Strait of Messina. After being carried off by Agron, he died peacefully as a contingent of former slaves he worked to free and protect indeed made it to safety. There is no evidence of any quote or of any great defense of his people by Spartacus in any manner. All sources agree that he was a former gladiator and an accomplished military leader. He was sold as a gladiator to be trained at the school in Capua. Not a whole lot of history regarding Spartacus has survived. According to the differing sources and their interpretation, Spartacus was a captive taken by the legions. However, in his final battle, Spartacus killed his horse so that he can be on the same level as his soldiers. New Moai statue that 'deified ancestors' found on Easter Island, Lab-grown minibrains will be used as 'biological hardware' to create new biocomputers, scientists propose, Ancient Roman 'spike defenses' made famous by Julius Caesar found in Germany, 'Building blocks of life' recovered from asteroid Ryugu are older than the solar system itself, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. How did Spartacus die in real life? What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Plutarch wrote that, just before the battle, Spartacus got off his horse, killed the beast, and told his men that if he won the battle, he would have many fine horses that belonged to the enemy, but if he lost he would have no need of a horse. The battle went poorly. Other characters, such as Gannicus and Castus, were also real-life individuals who participated in Spartacus rebellion. This rebellion, interpreted by some as an example of oppressed people fighting for their freedom against a slave-owning oligarchy, has provided inspiration for many political thinkers, and has been featured in literature, television, and film. We will send you the latest TV programmes, podcast episodes and articles, as well as exclusive offers from our shop and carefully selected partners. Spartacuss final struggle might have left only the badly disfigured body of a soldier dressed in ordinary armor.He was likely buried in a mass grave with the rest of his troops. Alarmed at the continued threat posed by the slaves, the Senate charged Marcus Licinius Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome and the only volunteer for the position,[37] with ending the rebellion. This story is told in the extraordinary documentary: Be Here Now: the Andy Whitfield Story. At the same time, the Roman Senate, alarmed by the defeat of the praetorian forces, dispatched a pair of consular legions under the command of Lucius Gellius and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. He should now do the same thing, faced with even this news about his illness. [6] Appian says he was "a Thracian by birth, who had once served as a soldier with the Romans, but had since been a prisoner and sold for a gladiator".[7]. Born in Gaul, he was enslaved by the Romans under unknown circumstances and trained as a gladiator in Capua. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact [email protected] for more information and to obtain a license. In reality, his forces had sneaked off and were able to orchestrate an ambush.. Spartacus was eventually defeated by a much larger, 8-legion army under the leadership of Crassus. Like in the show, the house resided in Capua and functioned as a school for gladiators, new and experienced alike. He undertakes, in total, some eleven rounds of chemotherapy, and one bout of radiography: exhausting every possible therapeutic avenue. It is estimated that there were 90,000 to 100,000 men in all. This dynamic allowed for some very interesting relationships to form which only added to the drama of the series. Genner, Michael. They then stormed the Roman camp, overwhelming them and in the process picking up military-grade equipment. Appian and Florus write that he intended to march on Rome itself. He joined the Roman legion when he was a teenager, but he really didn't like life in the legion, so he deserted. In an interview with the Deadline Hollywood website last year, Whitfield said having cancer had taught him some important lessons. Died: 71 BC. They marched as far north as Gaul (modern-day France). In the past, they had never wanted to leave Italy; now success might have gone to their heads and aroused visions of Rome in flames.. He was considered a brave and able leader who fought against tremendous odds with remarkable success. Spartacus and his small band of escapees acquired gladiator weapons from a passing cart and made their way to Mount Vesuvius. In the end they stayed, and roamed up and down Italy. Furthermore, the politics of being a slave also hold true. Leading his army of runaway slaves, which has been estimated to have reached 100,000 men, Spartacus defeated a series of Roman attacks using tactics which would now be called guerrilla warfare. [53][54], Adam Weishaupt, founder of the Bavarian Illuminati, often referred to himself as Spartacus within written correspondences.[55]. In the winter of 71 BC, Gannicus, along with Castus, broke off from Spartacus, taking a large number of Celts and Germans with them, marking the second detachment of the rebellion. Additionally, according to ancient sources, Spartacus insisted on equally dividing the spoils, something that made recruitment all the more easier. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Gannicus was a Celtic slave, who together with the Thracian Spartacus, Crixus, Castus and Oenomaus, became one of the leaders of rebel slaves during the Third Servile War (73-71 BC). Best known for: Leading a slave uprising against Rome. Spartacus represents the pinnacle of the epic film trend which included spectaculars such as Cleopatra, Ben Hur, and Fall of the Roman Empire. For the narratives sake, Glaber was portrayed as the person who betrayed Spartacus and sold him into slavery. Indeed, slave rebellions were not uncommon. Andy Whitfield (season 1 and prequel) and Liam McIntyre (seasons 2-3) as Spartacus - a Thracian slave who becomes a gladiator in the ludus of Lentulus Batiatus before leading a slave uprising. Only a few key changes were made to wrap up some of the shows story arcs. Part of the shows grand appeal was the dramatic lifestyle featured in the show, especially between the wealthy and the slaves. Despite Crassus having cornered Spartacus forces in the toe of Italy, theymanaged to escape. What Was the Sudeten Crisis and Why Was it So Important? [51] Appian also states that he later abandoned that goal, which might have been no more than a reflection of Roman fears. At some point he was captured, brought to Rome and sold as a slave to a man referred to at times as Vatia. This man owned a gladiator school in Capua, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) southeast of Rome. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. [50] If escaping the Italian peninsula was indeed his goal, it is not clear why Spartacus turned south after defeating the legions commanded by the consuls Lucius Publicola and Gnaeus Clodianus, which left his force a clear passage over the Alps. Hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and subscriber rewards. He even reports feeling selfish to the extent that he has achieved this peace, knowing that his children will miss their father, and his wife her best friend and husband. Though ordered not to engage the rebels, Mummius attacked at a seemingly opportune moment but was routed. [29] They spent the winter of 7372 BC training, arming and equipping their new recruits, and expanding their raiding territory to include the towns of Nola, Nuceria, Thurii and Metapontum. I will always be with you and will always be watching over you. Instead, he was considered part of the dregs of society. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [8] The authors refer to the Thracian tribe of the Maedi,[9][10][11] which occupied the area on the southwestern fringes of Thrace, along its border with the Roman province of Macedonia present day south-western Bulgaria. Support my efforts at:https://www.buymeacoffee.com//keithmasseyOr visit my website:https://www.keithmassey.net The legend of Spartacus has inspired so many fanciful retellings, it's easy to lose track of what actually happened back in 73 BC. Spartacus was sold into slavery, perhaps due to rebellion against or desertion from the army. Around 6,000 men survived the battle but were later captured and crucified by the Roman army. Stories like Whitfields, and Marcus very repetitions of such key Stoic meditations reflect thathowever critics of this conception of philosophy paint it, superciliously, as facileto attain such philosophical serenity is anything but easy. By the end of 72 BC, they were camped at Rhenium, (now Reggio di Calabria) probably intending to go on to Sicily. While Spartacuss uprising was ultimately crushed his memory lives on, more so than the Romans who fought against, or otherwise opposed, him. Omissions? Spartacus was a Roman slave and gladiator who led a revolt against Rome, which turned into the Third Servile War (73 B.C.E. Spartacus is written into history as a significant enemy who posed a very real treat to Rome. Though Spartacus himself may have never encountered some of these situations, they certainly took place as part of the gladiator culture. Whitfield's Spartacus co-star Lucy Lawless also paid tribute to the actor in a statement to EW: "Andy Whitfield left an indelible mark on all of us in the Spartacus family," she said. How Did Spartacus Die In Real Life. The title of Be Here Now comes from a reminder Whitfield sported on his arm, reflecting what we might call his personal philosophy. Nationality: Thracian. Rome did not respond to Spartacus growing force seriously. Under the leadership of the former gladiators, the slave army dealt Glaber a crushing defeat. Undeterred Spartacus ordered his troops to assemble boats of their own and, while they succeeded in building a number of them, their attempt to cross the strait failed, leaving his troops stuck on the Italian mainland. According to the surviving sources, Spartacus was from Thrace, an area in southeast Europe that the Romans were often trying to subjugate during the first century B.C.. In time, he even succeeded in getting non-slaves to join his rebellion. What other fears do just the same! Spartacus, which attracted media attention in the US for its graphic scenes of sex and violence, was first seen in the UK on the now defunct Bravo channel before moving to Sky One. Philosophy is no trick to catch the public, the Roman Stoic Seneca (first century CE) thus wrote a pupil: it is not devised for show. Everyone above a certain age in this broad sense has a philosophy of life, which in turn shapes what they feel and do. At one point, explaining why he is not raging at his fate, Whitfield explains simply that there are two ways he could respond. Furthermore, the Romans considered the rebellion more of a policing matter than a war. The Romans in Spartacus are all craven figures: manipulative and power-crazed or decadently debauched. However, things didn't work out. Died: 71 BC on a battlefield near Petelia, Italy.