Chief Gallagher’s Case Takes Another Turn

Spartacus was a Thracian, originally from a region north of Macedonia, which was considered by both Greeks and Romans as uncivilized and barbaric. Spartacus, however, is described by Plutarch as “more Greek than Thracian” and notes that he was exceptionally intelligent and highly cultured. Nothing is known of his youth nor how he became a slave to Rome. The primary sources on Spartacus’ revolt are the historians Appian, Florus (c. 130 CE), and Plutarch who each select those details they found most suitable from the earlier works on the revolt by Sallust (c. 86-35 BCE) and Livy (59 BCE-17 CE) both of which exist now only in fragments.

According to Appian he was a Thracian “who had once fought against the Romans and, after being taken prisoner and sold, had become a gladiator” (Civil Wars, I.116). Florus claims he was a Roman mercenary in the legions who was imprisoned for desertion and robbery before being selected as a gladiator “thanks to his strength”.

Plutarch gives a similar account of Spartacus as a mercenary for Rome but adds he was captured along with his wife after deserting. His wife is described as a prophetess of her people who escaped with Spartacus during the revolt and traveled with his army afterwards, most likely dying with him in the final clash with Rome. – Source: The Spartacus Revolt.

He was fed up with Rome and Roman ways, which is why he bolted in the first place. Byt the time Crassus was sent to stop him, he had gathered together an army of former/escaped slaves numbering somewhere between 90,000 and 120,000 and for some reason turned south instead of heading into northern Europe.