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Mummius Defeat (72 BC)

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Title
Mummius Defeat (72 BC)
Description
In the autumn of 72 BC, Marcus Licinius Crassus was chosen by the Senate to lead the war against Spartacus’ slave army. Crassus, a leading politician, was also rumored to be the richest man in Rome. How all this would …
Publisher
Date
-72
Scenario#
211
Scenario Description
In the autumn of 72 BC, Marcus Licinius Crassus was chosen by the Senate to lead the war against Spartacus’ slave army. Crassus, a leading politician, was also rumored to be the richest man in Rome. How all this would translate into military success was anybody’s guess, but many noble volunteers flocked to join his army of six legions. Meanwhile, the victorious slave army was marching southward again. Spartacus proposed a negotiated settlement, but Crassus refused to consider it. Next, Crassus assigned two of the legions to his deputy, Mummius, and gave him the task of harassing the flank of the slave army. Mummius was to slow down the slave army while the main force under Crassus waited on the border of Picenum, expecting Spartacus would come back that way. Unfortunately, Mummius wanted to maximize his own glory and foolishly attacked, even though outnumbered. His detachment was routed, and many of his legionnaires survived only by abandoning their arms and fleeing. Crassus subjected the remnants of Mummius’ legions to decimation, a harsh punishment not used in many years. One man in each squad of ten was chosen by lot and executed before the whole army. The legionnaires learned to fear Crassus more than they feared Spartacus.
Location
Abruzzo, Italy
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Third Servile War, also called by Plutarch the Gladiator War and The War of Spartacus, was the last in a series of slave rebellions against the Roman Republic, known as the Servile Wars. The Third was the only one directly to threaten the Roman heartland of Italy. It was particularly alarming to Rome because its military seemed powerless to suppress it.
Narrative Source
Combatants
Slave
Roman
Additional Information
Third Servile War

Geolocation