Dimensions
153 x 234 x 29mm
When we left Spartacus at the end of THE GLADIATOR, he had swept all before him, quelling rebellions from rival commanders within his slave army and defeating every force Rome could throw at him. Now, however, Crixus, the powerful leader of the Gauls, disagrees violently with Spartacus's strategy - to march north, over the Alps and thence home. Gaul for Crixus and Thrace in northern Greece for Spartacus.
Crixus - over-confident after their stunning victories - wants to march on Rome itself, convinced that they can bring their former masters to their knees. This disagreement leads to Crixus splitting off with his men and being annihilated by the Romans. It perhaps also signifies the first fatal weakening of Spartacus's position. But his march north towards the Alps goes smoothly and the way looks open for escape - which makes all the more puzzling the decision now made by Spartacus to turn back and go south again. He settles for the winter near Thurii - thus really throwing down the gauntlet to Rome. He and his slave army have shredded the armies of three praetors, two consuls and one proconsul with apparent ease.
The rebellion has become war - to the bitter end. Marcus Licinius Crassus is the man tasked with the destruction of the great slave general and to that end he sets out to trap Spartacus in the toe of Italy by means of an immense trench, which stretches literally from sea to sea, cutting his enemy off from the rich lands of the north which they would have been able to raid for winter provisions. Spartacus tries to escape via Brindisi by sea, but the port is heavily garrisoned.
The trap is closing, and at some point in the spring of 71 BC, a major battle is fought in north-west Lucania and Spartacus is finally defeated, apparently slain along with 60,000 slaves. But the body of Spartacus is never found and a legend persists that he escaped to fight another day.
