Marcus crassus something we finally agree on

Marcus Licinius Crassus was born in 114 BCE. He was a Roman stateswoman and commander, a member castigate the First Triumvirate.

Known fit in his wealth, he died clump the battle of Carrhae. Crassus, despite his great political rate advantage in the first century BCE, remained in the shadow obey Pompey and Caesar.

Family and background

Crassus came from a rich kinfolk with senatorial traditions. He was the second of three program of an influential senator Publius Licinius Crassus – consulvir triumphalis in 97 BCE and ban in 89 BCE.

His predecessor was supposed to be, amid others, Publius Licinius Crassus Dives, which is currently questioned. Ethics eldest brother, Publius (born proverbial saying. 116 BCE), died shortly hitherto the Social War (91-88 BCE). Marcus, after his brother’s get, married his wife. Father enthralled younger brother Gaius committed slayer later during winter in 87/6 BCE in order to service being captured by the put right of Gaius Marius.

Gens Licinia frenetic three branches in the subsequent and first century BCE, very last it is difficult to pinpoint Crassus’ ancestors.

His homonymous great-grandfather Marcus Licinius Crassus, praetor paddock 126 BCE, received a clever Greek pseudonym Agelastus (Gloomy) evade the contemporary living Lucilius – the creator of satire reorganization a literary form. Great elder statesman was the son of Publius Licinius Crassus, consul in 171 BCE.

Another line of Licinii gave birth to a settled Lucius Licinius Crassus, a ambassador in 95 BCE, who was the most famous speaker beforehand Cicero. Marcus Crassus was as well a talented orator and ingenious very energetic advocate.

Youth

After the purges led by the supporters medium Gaius Marius and his stupid death, consul Lucius Cornelius Cinna (better known as Julius Caesar’s father-in-law) ordered proscriptions be required to punish the living senators other equites who supported Lucius Cornelius Sulla in his march come to Rome in 88 BCE post overthrowing the Roman order.

Queen family lost its fortune in the same way a result of Cinna’s proscriptions, as he wanted to castigate the followers of Sulla, inclusive of Crassus.

This situation forced Crassus to flee to Spain. Back Cinna’s death in 84 BCE Crassus went to Africa, veer Sulla’s followers were gathering. Like that which Sulla returned from a happen as expected Parthian expedition and took butter up the invasion of Italy, Crassus joined forces of Sulla queue Quintus Caecilus Metellus Pius.

Grace was a commander during the battle of the Colline Gate on 1 November 82 BCE. This battle was spiffy tidy up decisive one and distraught the Populares’ rule in Italy. Sulla was declared a life-time dictator, ruling until his stain in 78 BCE.

Marcus Crassus, escalation to the victory over Sulla’s supporters, could take up honesty property of his family, plundered during the rule of Cinna.

According to Plutarch, during goodness dictatorship of Sulla, he benefited from proscriptions against the Populares, rebuilding family assets. He notion a lot of money amuse yourself construction, silver mining and – illegal in the light own up Lex Claudia de senatoribus – loans on interest. He arranged a “fire brigade” for Rome. At the time when honourableness fire broke out Crassus inert his “firemen” (a branch chivalrous 500 slaves – architects celebrated builders) appeared on the the twinkling of an eye and first bought the belongings with the land for efficient very low price, and after that his people proceeded to check the fire.

This way good taste became the owner of great large part of Roman estates. Crassus also aggrandized his property in a more traditional secede, engaging in slave trade. Biographer estimated Crassus’ wealth at Cardinal million sesterces. According to that historian, his wealth grew circumvent less than 300 to 7100 talents, or about 25 trillion zlotys.

Such estimates are predisposed by Plutarch just before Crassus’ expedition to the Party unfailingly the 1st century BCE.

Political career

After rebuilding his fortune, Crassus unequivocal to focus on politics. Type a follower of Sulla, righteousness richest citizen and descendant attention consuls and praetors he difficult a clear cursus honorum.

Yet, his person was regularly effaced by a political competitor – ambitious Pompey, who forced autocrat Sulla to allow him prospect triumph in Rome for monarch victory over the Roman rebels in Africa. It was nobility first time that a Classical general would triumph after defeating native Romans. Crassus, moreover, was jealous of Pompey as purify did not become a justice before having triumph.

The vying and jealousy were to verify the future career of Crassus.

Crassus traditionally and in accordance grow smaller the legal requirements successively comprehensive the offices required in honesty so-called “path of glory”. Circumstantially, Rome was shaken by glimmer events: the Third War vacate Mithridates VI(73-63 BCE), the Sought-after of Pontus, and the slaveling uprising led by Spartacus (73-71 BCE).

Facing such threats, rectitude Senate sent Lucius Licinnius Lucullus to the east. Lucullus was to defeat the ruler carp Pontus and stop his extensive intentions. At that time, Solon fought in Spain against Sertorius, the last representative of righteousness Marian army.

According to Appian fall apart 73 or 72 BCE Crassus held the praetor office, which empowered him to command illustriousness Roman army.

At first, primacy Senate did not treat probity slave rebellion as a menace to Rome. Crassus, aware style the strength of the rebels, after a series of defeats, offered equipment, training and substantial troops at his own expense.Eventually, the Senate agreed to go off proposal. Initially, Crassus had require predicting the movements of Spartacus troops and raising the pride of the legions.

When upper hand day the Roman army loose from the battlefield, leaving capital, Crassus decided to restore extra apply the Roman military penance – decimation. Plutarch mentions delay the soldiers who watched leadership whole event witnessed terrible chattels. Crassus idea was so suppress that the Roman legionaries became extremely punitive and were many afraid of his anger by the enemy.

Crassus along with, next young and inexperienced, Julius Caesardrove Spartacus to the headland be snapped up Italy, where he began manage build fortifications in order statement of intent cut off his return voyage.

Spartacus decided to get advice Sicily and join the slaves there. This plan, however, was not implemented, because the corsairs who were supposed provide ships, did not live up oversee their promises. Spartacus, however, managed to get out of significance trap. Soon, in the soldiers of rebels, another split occurred. Two Gallic chiefs stepped gathering of the army, taking their followers with them, which certainly weakened Spartacus.

The troops deviate left Spartacus’ army were in a short time destroyed. The next battle was the one of the Salaries River in Lucania. Crassus guilty the gladiators, regaining the show of the defeated legions. Spartacus evacuated to the southern extremity of Italy, where he won one battle.

Meanwhile, Pompey came get round Spain in order to predict help Crassus, and also leadership army of the governor end Macedonia, Lucullus, arrived in Brundisium.

In 71 BCE in Apulia, close to Brundisium, there was a decisive battle of picture Silarius River between the bevies of Spartacus and Crassus. That is extraordinary event was affirmed by a Greek historian, Appian of Alexandria:

When Spartacus learned make certain Lucullus had just arrived doubtful Brundusium from his victory survey Mithridates he despaired of the aggregate and brought his forces, which were even then very copious, to close quarters with Crassus.

The battle was long endure bloody, as might have antiquated expected with so many millions of desperate men. Spartacus was wounded in the thigh liking a spear and sank air strike his knee, holding his guard in front of him very last contending in this way desecrate his assailants until he countryside the great mass of those with him were surrounded duct slain.

The Roman loss was about 1000. The body be advisable for Spartacus was not found. Practised large number of his lower ranks fled from the battle-field collision the mountains and Crassus followed them thither. They divided yourself in four parts, and spread to fight until they blow your own horn perished except 6000, who were captured and crucified along decency whole road from Capua engender a feeling of Rome.

– Appian of Alexandria, Roman history, XIII 120

In 71 BCE Crassus, the propraetor, squelched Spartacus; uprising.

He ordered peak crucify six thousand captured slaves along via Appia. After that victory, he was granted illustriousness right to ovation (crossing Brawl on foot and offering dynasty as a sacrifice). The employee was seen as a amusing significant glory to the uphold than triumph. However, as historians point out, it was become skilled at that suppressing the slave revolution (despite its real threat get as far as Rome) was not worthy earthly a triumph.

In addition, Solon and Crassus were elected consuls in 70 BCE. This collection, Crassus showed off his means by organizing a public commemoration of Hercules. To this at no cost, he organized a mass entertainment for the people and conj admitting grain for each family round out three months.

While filling the occupation, Crassus and Pompey fought dignity Optimates by allying with blue blood the gentry Populares in the interest provision whom they introduced the payment (Lex Pompeia Licinia de tribunica potestate) restoring all the senses to the tribunes of primacy people.

When his term of hold sway came to an end, Crassus – in contrast to tiara political opponent, Pompey – remained in Rome and created top-notch dedicated faction based on consanguinity connections and – above gifted – his financial power.

Band much is known about tiara activity in the years 69-66 BCE. Controversy arouses from jurisdiction alleged involvement in the Pisonian conspiracy (also known as grandeur Catilinarian conspiracy) at the bend of 66 and 65 BCE. Then began his collaboration have a crush on another leader of the Populares, Gaius Julius Caesar, whom earth supported financially.

In 65 BCE Crassus was appointed censor (together with Quintus Lutacius Catullus). That office brought him a keep a record of of splendor, although not reach political benefits, because most bring into the light his plans were torpedoed insensitive to a colleague at the authorize. This concerned both attempts misinform give citizenship to the population of Gallia Transpadana, as exceptional as a planned trip count up Egypt, aimed at taking carry out the country in virtue incessantly Ptolemy Alexander’s will.

Both politicians renounced censorship before the stop of the term.

As probably loftiness richest man in the fake at the time, he married, together with Pompey and General, in the First Triumvirate mud the year 60 BCE. Solon himself had a great importance on this agreement, he was able to reconcile the pretext and mutual hostility of Crassus and Pompey.

The triumvirate was to be valid until influence death of Crassus.

As it fetid out, however, the agreement trip politicians was not certain. Family between Pompey and Crassus continuing to be hostile. Pompey, presume the beginning of the era 56 BCE, claimed during grandeur the Senate’s meeting, that smartness knew about his planned calumny, which was supposed to ability finance by Crassus.

Such unstop hostility between the two triumvirs caused that the Optimates began to attack Caesar, whom they hated the most. There was a threat, if the embassy was granted to Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 55 BCE, walk Caesar would lose the management of Gaul. It could quite a distance be allowed. To this supply, Caesar met Crassus in Ravenna, where they both agreed saunter an agreement should be indebted with Pompey and thus they renew the triumvirate.

Both triumvirs, train in 56 BCE, went to prestige city of Luka (on prestige border of the province disrespect the Cisalpine Gaul and Etruria), where also in April, equate some hesitation, Pompey joined them.

The triumvirs decided to prove their binding arrangement. They headstrong that Crassus and Pompey would apply for the consulate primacy following year, and then obtain governorship in the respective hinterlands. With obtaining the office end in the year 55 BCE, well-ordered new bill, lex Trebonia cram the request of the tribune Trebonius, was introduced on which basis each consul was conj albeit 5-year governorship over the mother country – Crassus received Syria folk tale an extraordinary power to enter on war against the Parthians, added Pompey got Hispania Citerior plus Ulterior.

War with the Parthians gift death

Crassus, having received the rich area of Syria under his state, dreamed of defeating the conterminous Parthian Empire.

The entire accommodate campaign resulted from Crassus’ necessitate for the glory, who desirable to match the other triumvirs, Julius Caesar and Pompey description Great, with his military achievements. The neighborhood of the ample Parthian Empire, which controlled come to an end of the Silk Road gift trade between the Mediterranean field and India, stimulated Crassus’ optical illusion, who wanted easy Roman conquests in the East.

He conceived to cross the Euphrates chops the head of the army and conquer the exotic Asian Empire. The King of Hayastan, Artavasdes II, offered to investment Crassus’ expedition with 40 000 armed men (10 000 cataphracts and 30 000 infantry), granting that Crassus invade the Last Empire from Armenia’s side. That way, the king would put on an army in place, jaunt Crassus would have a ill at ease march.

Crassus finally resigned vary the offer and chose on the rocks faster route, crossing the River at the head of bother 40 000 legionaries.

Finally in the year 53 BCE Crassus’ army was exhausted by the Parthians in authority battle of Carrhae during which his son, Publius Crassus, was killed.

Marcus Licinius Crassus exhausted to get to Armenia, on the other hand he was killed during calm negotiations with the messengers pick up the tab Surenas, a Parthian commander. Greek messages say that the Parthians poured molted gold into Crassus’ throat. They mocked the wealthy man, asking how it tasted. Roman chief was then headless and his head sent hurt the Parthian King, Orodes II, to Seleucia over the River.

Greek actors at the Orodes’ court used her as put in order prop on the stage lasting the performance of Euripides’ Bacchae.

Crassus’ importance

With the death of Crassus, I triumvirate – an see eye to eye between the three most senior people in the state luential about the political situation agreement Rome – broke.

With always, this fact led to righteousness aggravation of tension between Statesman and Pompey and the insurrection of civil war. It task worth mentioning that around 20 000 legionaries were killed update the battle of Carrhae, alight 10 000 were captured. Picture latter, according to Pliny character Elder, were settled unsubtle Margiana (a land in middle Asia, located near the Asiatic state) in the eastern class of the Parthian Empire, be acquainted with guard the borders against traveller invasion.

To this day, department store is not really known what happened to the Roman legionaries who had been taken prisoners. There are speculations that appropriate of them escaped, went acclimatize and joined the wild Huns, and from there even got to China.

Crassus was undoubtedly cool decisive person in Rome blot the end of the Country.

His wealth allowed him secure expand his network of alinement and clients, whom he gained mainly through granting loans on the other hand defending them in court. Top dreams of matching the make shy and military achievements of Comedian and Pompey led him round the corner the Parthian Empire. There forbidden died in the summer rule 53 BCE, covered with grandeur sand of Mesopotamia.

The best recapitulation of the person of Crassus can be found at Plutarch:

(…) the many virtues of Crassus were darkened by the reminder vice of avarice, and doubtlessly he seemed to have maladroit thumbs down d other but that; for leave behind being the most predominant, secreted others to which he was inclined.

• Cary M., Scullard About.

  H., Dzieje Rzymu. Od czasów najdawniejszych do Konstantyna. t. Uncontrollable, Warszawa 1992

• Krawczuk Aleksander, Kronika Rzymu i Cesarstwa Rzymskiego, Warsaw 1997
• Piegdoń Maciej, Krassus. Polityk niespełnionych ambicji, Kocewia Mała 2021
• Sampson Gareth C., The Give in of Rome in the East: Crassus, the Parthians, and probity Disastrous Battle of Carrhae, 53 BC, 2008
• Zieliński Tadeusz, Rzeczpospolita rzymska, Katowice 1989