Battle of the Silarius River

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Battle of the Silarus.
Battle of the Silarius River
Part of the
Sele River, Italy
Result Roman victory
Belligerents Roman Republic Slave armyCommanders and leaders Marcus Licinius Crassus Spartacus (MIA), (presumed dead)Strength 40,000[1]
6 legions
4 consular legions 50,000[1]Casualties and losses 1,000 killed[1] 5,000–10,000 killed[1]

The Battle of the Silarius River was the final, decisive action of the

Sele River, southern Campania, southern Italy
.

Background

Bruttium
by building a 60-kilometre-long (37 mi) system of ditches and walls. After a failed truce, Spartacus gathered his army for battle. He ordered his horse to be brought to him, drew his sword, and slew the animal. He proclaimed to his troops that if he should win the day, he would have many horses to choose from, but if he should lose the upcoming battle and the Romans should win the day, he would not need one.

Appian wrote that Spartacus then launched several skirmishing assaults upon the Roman defenders, striking them swiftly and almost with silence. After slaying a number of the Roman guards and penetrating the Roman defenses, Spartacus and about 50,000 rebels managed to slip past

Castus
remained behind with the remaining 12,000 soldiers of the rebel army.

Battle

On the banks of the

gladiators
charged at the Roman ranks, colliding with a wall of shields and swords. Though the rebels fought hard and took down many Roman soldiers, they also suffered heavy casualties in the process. Spartacus rallied his troops and led an advance against Crassus.

In the midst of the battle, Spartacus tried desperately to reach Crassus, killing two centurions in the process. Appian wrote that during the battle, Spartacus was severely wounded in the leg by a javelin and was forced to get down on his knees. Despite his injury, the rebel leader refused to give up and continued fighting before he was finally overpowered and killed.[2]

The rebels fought desperately for a long time but were eventually cut down in droves with many fleeing to the mountains.[1]

Aftermath

At the end of the battle, Crassus and his men were victorious, though they too had suffered some heavy casualties. According to Appian, the numbers of dead on both sides were extremely high and impossible to count. Appian pointed out in his sources that only about 1,000 Roman soldiers fell in the battle, but other historians believe that Roman casualties were much higher than that.

Spartacus also died in the battle, but his body was never recovered. An ancient source estimated 60,000 rebels killed but

crucified on Crassus' orders, while 5,000 others who escaped from Crassus' troops were captured and killed by the Spanish legions under Pompey, possibly in northern Italy.[3]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Strauss 2009, p. 184.
  2. ^ Strauss 2009, p. 182.
  3. ISBN 0312237030
    .

References

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