At the height of the Third Mithridatic War (75-63 BC), and with Sertorius’ revolt in Spain still a thorn in Rome’s side, the last thing the city needed was another crisis. That was the moment, however, in 73 BC, when a small group of gladiators broke free from their school in Capua and launched a rampaging campaign throughout Italy that grew into what is known as the Third Servile War, or, more popularly, as the Spartacus Revolt. A vast popular tradition has attached itself to just one of the leaders of the gladiators – Spartacus.
Despite what modern ideas would suggest, we know little about the breakout and must compile a picture from a range of sources. In 73 BC, a number of gladiators escaped from a school in Capua (anywhere from 30 to 200, although usually 70 is mentioned). The school was run by Lentulus Batiatus and may have specialized in training glad iator pairs of Thracians and Gauls. Some Germans were also among the escapees. Leading the gladiators, several men are named: Spartacus, Crixus, Castus, Gannicus, and Oenomaus. After the
