Spartacus

Spartacus was the Thracian leader of a slave revolt in ancient Rome. Born in Thrace, Spartacus was a Thracian soldier captured by the Romans and sold as a slave, and sent to a training school for gladiators at Capua.

In 73 B.C. a band of gladiators escaped, chose Spartacus as their leader, and defeated the local forces sent against them. Joined by thousands of runaway slaves, Spartacus fought his way north toward the Alps. His men, confident of further victories, refused to leave Italy. Spartacus turned south, ravaged the countryside, and defeated the armies of both Roman consuls of 72 B.C.

He eluded a trap set for him by Marcus Licinius Crassus at Rhegium (now Reggio di Calabria), but then lost a decisive battle to Crassus at the Silarus River. Spartacus was killed during the fighting in Lucania (now Basilicata), Italy in 71 B.C.