Chapter 18: Slave Revolt (2)
Chapter 18: Slave Revolt (2)
News of Glaber's shocking defeat quickly reached Rome, prompting an emergency Senate meeting.
The Senate members unanimously condemned Glaber for tarnishing Rome's honor.
“No matter how inexperienced the rebellion leader was, I can’t understand it! They were just gladiators and slaves. We were overwhelmingly superior in equipment and numbers.”
“More than a thousand Roman citizens were killed by slaves. This should never have happened!”
“Judge! If you have something to say, speak now!”
Glaber was left speechless, unable to respond. His only reason for escaping safely was the stirrups on his horse, which provided stability during his chaotic retreat.
The effectiveness of the stirrups proved unexpectedly useful.
Crassus felt a surge of annoyance as the Senate members scrambled to denounce Glaber. At this moment, another jurist, Publius Varinius, asked to speak.
“It is a disgrace that a Roman praetor’s army was defeated by slaves. I ask you, Senators, to give me the chance to restore Rome’s honor. I will handle it.”
No objections were raised against Varinius. Despite Glaber’s defeat, the Senate did not view it as a serious issue. To them, Glaber’s defeat was a result of his incompetence, not the superiority of the slaves.
Varinius, who volunteered to lead the punitive forces, shared this belief.
Crassus considered whether this situation might be dangerous but chose not to voice his concerns, as Marcus had advised him to remain silent.
‘I don’t know why, but there must be a reason for what my son says.’
Crassus was impressed that Marcus had accurately predicted Varinius would lead the next subjugation army. According to common sense, a consul wouldn’t lead the campaign himself; thus, another judge would naturally take the lead. With eight judges in total, excluding the defeated Glaber and Crassus, only six remained. Marcus had even anticipated which judge would be chosen.
‘The more I observe him, the more impressed I am. How did he become so perceptive in just over a year?’
The Senate meeting unfolded almost exactly as Marcus had predicted. Crassus felt a mix of goosebumps from his son's near-precognitive abilities and immense pride.
What father wouldn’t be proud of a son whose genius was emerging more each day?
Crassus felt that Marcus might rise in political prominence much more quickly than he had previously anticipated. While he once thought Publius would be the next consul, he now saw Marcus as a potential future leader.
"No, perhaps the day will come when both brothers become consuls, like the Lucullus family. If that day comes, it won’t be a dream for the Crassus family to reign at the pinnacle of the Optimates faction."
Crassus didn’t consider individual comparisons but was confident he had outpaced Pompey in his ambitions. Feeling a sense of superiority, he dismissed Varinius's speech about swiftly subduing the slaves.
**
After the Senate meeting, Crassus reported everything to Marcus. This routine exchange had become a standard part of their communication.
"As you predicted, I paid little attention to Varinius. But why did you foresee this?"
"It’s unfortunate that blood will be shed, but if sacrifices are inevitable, we must aim for the best possible outcome. It will be up to the father to suppress the slave rebellion."
"You mean Varinius will also be defeated by the slaves?"
"Yes. Varinius will lose. If he approaches the rebels as if fighting Eastern dynasties or Northern Germans, he might win. But does he really think that way? I’m sure other senators will see Crixus’s rebels as mere pests to be crushed easily."
Crassus agreed. The Senate’s focus had been solely on denouncing Glaber while disregarding the rebels.
"Still, it can’t be helped. Among the rebels, only a few former gladiators and outcasts have real combat experience. Besides, in warfare, individual fighting skills aren’t enough; effective command is crucial."
"Who among them has experience commanding an army? It’s hard to believe the regular army would lose to amateurs who don’t even know basic strategy."
Military science was an advanced field reserved for the nobility in ancient Rome, and Roman aristocrats took pride in their superior military technology.
Marcus pinpointed the flaw in this complacency. "That’s where you’re making a critical mistake. Crixus, who leads the rebels, understands basic strategy and tactics. Glaber’s defeat wasn’t a fluke."
"What? How could a gladiator know such things?"
"Spartacus mentioned it when he was in Capua. Before becoming a slave, he led a tribe and must have had experience leading soldiers."
"Why are you mentioning this now? How large do you predict this rebel force will become?"
Marcus hesitated, then spoke cautiously. "If Varinius is defeated, the slave army could easily grow to over 10,000. Rome will then recognize the seriousness, but subduing them will be difficult. Slaves from all over will join, increasing their power."
"Do you really think it will reach that point?"
Historically, even a consul’s army faced defeat, but Marcus wasn’t certain. The exact extent of Crixus’s skills remained unclear. Timing was crucial for Crassus to quash the rebellion.
"First, this rebellion will likely continue until the end of the year. We need to use this time to train a large number of new cavalry."
"New cavalry? How many?"
"Roman-style heavy cavalry modeled after the Parthian Cataphractoi. They don’t need to be numerous, but they must demonstrate their effectiveness in subduing the rebels."
Unlike the Parthian cavalry, which held the spear with both hands, Marcus proposed holding the spear with one hand, using the armpit for support. This method allowed the use of the shield with the other hand and offered more stability. It also required less space, enabling denser formations for charging.
Marcus explained that the new method of holding the spear was Spartacus’s idea. Crassus, well aware of Spartacus’s excellence, had no reason to doubt it.
"If the slave rebellion continues into the next year, deploying this new cavalry is certainly feasible," Crassus agreed.
“Yes. We also plan to equip them with more substantial armor. We’ll streamline the process as much as possible. Father will be hailed as the hero who quelled the rebellion, and Roman cavalry power will be significantly enhanced. You'll be recognized as an innovator who elevated Rome.”
“Haha, I can’t claim the credit for that,” Crassus chuckled. “If anything, it’s your achievement. I can’t be the father who takes away his child’s glory.”
“Even if I were to claim it, no one would believe me. On the contrary, people might accuse you of promoting your son excessively. Besides, wouldn’t Publius benefit more from it?”
Marcus had no intention of drawing too much attention to himself. Being recognized as a talented individual was acceptable, but excessive acclaim was a burden in the Roman system. Roman aristocrats had an aversion to anyone who showed even the slightest hint of ambition towards dictatorship. After Marius and Sulla wielded dictatorial power, this tendency only grew stronger. They would not tolerate a rising talent who appeared too dominant. They would use any excuse to undermine and control them.
Even Pompey, who was seen as part of the Senate, was not exempt from this scrutiny. No matter how significant the achievements, the Senate’s Optimates faction would not hesitate to check any individual they deemed too powerful.
Marcus decided to remain in the background until he possessed unassailable power. Whether it was Crassus, Pompey, or Caesar, the goal was to avoid attracting undue attention from the Senate. Practicality mattered more to Marcus than fame or recognition.
Crassus, unaware of his son's deeper strategy, was simply proud and grateful for Marcus’s thorough planning.
**
With Crassus’s approval, Marcus promptly began training the new heavy cavalry. Since this was not a Senate-sanctioned project, it had to be funded privately. Though this limited the scale, the Crassus family’s wealth made it manageable. The significant investment in stirrups and horseshoes alleviated financial pressure.
Crassus, initially skeptical about the rebellion’s potential for large-scale growth, began to believe in Marcus’s predictions after hearing about Publius Varinius’s defeat.
As Marcus had forecasted, Varinius’s disdain for the slave rebels led to his downfall. Varinius split his army of 4,000 into two, placing an adjutant in command. Crixus seized this opportunity and decisively attacked the lieutenant's troops, defeating them one by one.
Cocinius was unable to escape and was beheaded by Crixus. Varinius, who pursued Crixus too late, pretended to flee but was caught in the surprise attack by the rebels, resulting in a crushing defeat.
The capture of the Pasques, a symbol of Roman authority alongside the military flag, was especially devastating. The Pasques is an axe made by binding several tree branches together, and Crixus made his subordinates carry this trophy with pride.
Fueled by this victory, Crixus’ power surged beyond Rome’s control. Reports of the rebellion's growing strength reached Rome day and night:
“A large exodus of southern shepherd slaves has joined the rebels.”
“The slaves of Neapolis have fled en masse.”
“The size of the rebels is estimated to have exceeded 40,000.”
“Slaves have rioted in Metapontum. The rebels are reportedly heading there to respond.”
The Senate and the People’s Assembly received daily reports of the increasing power of the slave rebels, with estimates now reaching 60,000 to 70,000. This far exceeded the scale of a minor slave uprising.
In a twist from known history, unlike the historical slave armies that moved north to escape Rome, today’s slave armies ravaged the Roman territories, causing widespread destruction. Large, well-defended cities were safe, but medium-sized cities with weaker walls fell to the slave army's assault.
The rebels looted and destroyed, killing Roman men and raping women. Without a leader like Spartacus to control them, their aggression reached new heights. Crixus did not attempt to curb their violence, focusing solely on preparing for the Roman army's counterattack.
As the damage escalated, the Senate was forced to summon an army before sundown. Contrary to historical events, this army was commanded by Lucius Gellius Publnicola and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus, whose terms would not begin until the following year. This time, Rome deployed real regular legions, not just recruits.
The consuls led two legions each, totaling more than 25,000 troops.
“Sending all four legions against just one insurgent force is unprecedented. Even if we win, we risk our borders and our reputation.”
While some lawmakers still considered the situation manageable, the majority supported the deployment of the regular corps. Those who took the situation seriously believed this massive deployment would end the rebellion. However, the situation proved more complicated.
Despite the mild Mediterranean climate, winter was not a favorable season for warfare.
Moreover, the end of the year was the rainiest season, and the morale of the troops marching through the muddy fields in the bitter cold was low.
The two consuls did not coordinate their efforts, each wanting to take credit for ending the war. Gellius, who moved hastily, fell into an ambush set by Crixus and was forced to flee. Archon Lentulus’s army, which followed, was similarly defeated.
Despite their success, the slave army also suffered losses. Crixus faced significant damage, even though he fought under more favorable conditions than in actual history. This also highlighted his lack of strategic prowess compared to Spartacus. However, like in history, the unified leadership of the rebels ultimately led to their victory.
In the wake of the consular defeat, shocking news emerged amid the thunderclap of their defeat. A freed Roman soldier from Lentulus’s legion stood on the rostrum of the Comitium, where the assembly was held. The soldier, shedding tears of blood, condemned the atrocities committed by Crixus’ army.
“They forced us captive Roman citizens to fight each other with swords. Those who refused were brutally tortured to death. And they mocked us, saying only those who fought and survived would be freed! I stand here, having survived by killing my own comrades. Why? Because I couldn’t die without telling you what they are doing!”
“Down with those scoundrels!”
The Roman Forum was filled with the angry shouts of citizens. The soldier pounded his chest and shouted, “Their leader freed me and told me to relay his message to Rome. He declared himself as the vessel of his rage toward Rome and vowed that this anger would soon engulf Rome even more fiercely. Do I have to witness his fervor?”
“What is the Senate doing?”
“Since the consuls are focused on their own glory, this is the result! It’s a disgrace to Rome!”
The Senate could not ignore the public outcry. In fact, they were even angrier than the common people. The right to host gladiatorial games was a privilege reserved for Romans, and Crixus's ostentatious display was a deliberate insult to Rome’s traditions.
However, raising an army out of anger alone would only risk repeating the previous defeat. Moreover, with the consul’s army having been defeated, no one was eager to volunteer for the task.
It was a large army, numbering in the thousands, and their morale was high due to a string of victories. They were not an easy opponent.
No one was willing to step forward. Cicero, a newcomer gaining a reputation as a lawyer, cautiously spoke up.
“If we raise an army in the winter, we will only suffer another defeat. Fortunately, Sertorius’s rebellion in Hispania is almost suppressed. Pompey will return next year at the latest, so why don’t we entrust him with command?”
“Even so, Hispania is not yet fully subdued, and if we just wait for Pompey...”
“Are you suggesting that there is no talent in Rome other than Pompey?”
The senators objected firmly, unwilling to give Pompey further opportunities to enhance his military reputation. However, no one stepped forward to take command.
Following Marcus’s advice, Crassus felt this was the right time to act. He stood up from his seat and spoke with unusual politeness.
“Respected Members, please grant me the Imperium (the highest command). I will lead the army to defeat the rebels and restore Rome’s honor.”
Crassus, as the chief judge, was qualified to lead the legion. However, his military experience was limited to a brief stint under Sulla, and he lacked the level of trust needed for such a position.
Caecilius Metellus, recently serving as an inspector general, raised his hand and asked cautiously,
“How do you plan to face the enemy, Chief Justice?”
“The reason for our previous defeats is clear. The commanders underestimated the enemy, became complacent, and were preoccupied with personal glory. I ask the council to let me organize eight legions, including the army of the defeated Archon. I will thoroughly annihilate the enemy without any carelessness or conceit.”
The firm and confident declaration stirred the Senate. While it was persuasive, there was a concern.
Rentulus, the leader of the group, cautiously objected,
“Eight legions seem excessive. I am reluctant to say this, but organizing eight legions will undoubtedly ensure victory, but there are also financial concerns.”
Publnicola supported this objection,
“Given the current financial situation, managing eight legions would be a significant strain.”
“I will cover the cost.”
Crassus’s straightforward rebuttal silenced the Senate president, and he continued,
“Please organize only six legions from the national treasury. I will personally finance the remaining two legions.”
The senators’ eyes widened. Lentulus and Publnicola quietly withdrew their objections and sat down.
In an instant, the proposal to grant Crassus the Imperium and appoint him as the commander-in-chief of the punitive forces was passed. There were no dissenting votes.