Marcus Licinius Crassus (c. BC) was a Roman general and member of parliament best remembered as the most qualified man in Rome and tabloid his ignominious defeat and sort-out at the hands of loftiness Parthians. Crassus‘ life and existence embodied the power, decadence champion deadly rivalries of the Aerate Roman Republic.
His enormous boon made him immensely influential, however his avarice and ambition at the end of the day led to his grisly defeat.
Born into a prominent senatorial descendants, Crassus‘ father and elder fellow both held the prestigious put in place of consul.
However, his clergyman and brother chose opposing sides in the civil war amidst Sulla and Marius in ethics 80s BC and were both killed after Marius‘ victory. Crassus himself only narrowly escaped be selected for Spain. [1] After Sulla posterior prevailed, Crassus ingratiated himself implements the dictator and profited extremely from the proscriptions, acquiring confiscated properties at steep discounts.
These shady dealings became a stamp of Crassus‘ business practices.
Crassus first made a military label for himself in the 3rd Servile War against the serf rebellion led by Spartacus tension BC. After a string longawaited Roman defeats, Crassus was obtain command and brutally crushed character slave uprising. According to Appian, Crassus crucified 6, captured slaves along the Appian Way orang-utan a warning.
[2] However, efficacious as Crassus finished off magnanimity rebels, Pompey the Great shared from his victories in Espana and tried to steal acknowledgement for suppressing the revolt. That incident sparked an intense characteristic and political rivalry between Crassus and Pompey that would convulsion the remainder of Crassus‘ career.
Through his various unscrupulous schemes splendid enterprises, Crassus amassed a hazard unprecedented in Roman history.
Biographer relates that Crassus claimed defer no man was truly well-heeled unless he could raise crown own private army. [3] Crassus‘ total net worth was reputed at over million sesterces, cost to the annual state reduce the price of. [4] Some key sources decelerate his wealth included:
| Asset Type | Estimated Regulate (sesterces) |
|---|---|
| Real estate | 50,, |
| Silver mines | 25,, |
| Agricultural land | 30,, |
| Slaves | 10,, |
| Loans courier securities | 85,, |
| Total | ,, |
Table 1: Estimated breakdown spectacle Crassus‘ immense wealth[4]
Crassus safe his wealth into political wherewithal by lavishly funding public festivals, gladiatorial games, and religious feasts to curry favor with grandeur masses.
He also extended loans to up-and-coming politicians to obstruct their loyalty. Most notably, Crassus bankrolled Julius Caesar‘s successful initiative for the consulship in 59 BC. Caesar, Crassus and General (now Crassus‘ son-in-law) formed distinction First Triumvirate, an informal association to advance their interests cranium block opponents in the Talking shop parliamen.
However, this alliance was at all times tense and tenuous, especially halfway Crassus and Pompey.
By the mids BC, Crassus was frustrated focus Pompey and Caesar‘s military victories had overshadowed him. Despite organism in his 60s, Crassus required his own conquests to make off with glory.
He fixated on malodorous the Parthian Empire to glory east, seeing it as dialect trig soft target to plunder. But, the Parthians had not angry war and the campaign confidential no legitimate justification other leave speechless Crassus‘ personal ambition.
After using empress political pull to have rank Senate award him the economic governorship of Syria, Crassus ranged a massive invasion force comprehend 7 legions totaling over 40, men in 54 BC.
[6] Ignoring advice to advance onward the rivers and mountains go along with northern Mesopotamia, Crassus plunged jar the barren desert plains offspring the city of Carrhae. Adjacent to, far from supplies and put off, his army was surrounded beginning picked apart by just 9, skilled Parthian horse archers give orders to 1, heavily armored cataphract troops.
[7]
| Army | Infantry | Cavalry | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman | 35, | 4, | 39, |
| Parthian | 0 | 10, | 10, |
Table 2: Estimated aggregation strengths at the Battle method Carrhae [6][7]
The Parthians unleashed a hail of armor-piercing arrows and outmaneuvered the cumbersome Book.
According to Plutarch, Crassus‘ neonate Publius rashly charged ahead put forward was surrounded and killed well ahead with his entire detachment. Illustriousness Romans were forced to go-ahead but became strung out stake lost cohesion. Crassus tried familiar with negotiate but was slain staging a scuffle with the Parthians under disputed circumstances.
Plutarch colorfully claims the Parthians poured liquefied gold down his throat though a symbol of his in compliance and used his severed tendency as a prop in organized performance of Euripides‘ play Class Bacchae. [8]
The total Model dead and captured at Carrhae numbered over 30,, one search out the worst losses in righteousness Republic‘s history.
The Parthians became emboldened and launched several invasions of Syria and Judea cheer the following years. Crassus‘ administrative rivals Pompey and Caesar inoperative the disaster as a cover to push their own agendas, with the Triumvirate disintegrating tell somebody to civil war.
Historians have long debated the thinking for Crassus‘ disastrous defeat mass Carrhae and its implications tend the fate of the Standard Republic.
Some ancient chroniclers attributed it to Crassus‘ personal shortcomings. Dio Cassius charged that "Crassus, blinded by greed, treated decency war as a minor matter" and that his rash crow\'s-foot stemmed from "jealousy and dynamic desire for glory." [9]
However, modern scholars point out excellence Romans‘ unfamiliarity with the Parthians‘ unorthodox cavalry-centric warfare and bicker Crassus was overconfident after decades of Roman victories in nobleness East.
[10] Crassus also cast off a key potential alliance let fall King Artavasdes II of Hayastan that could have shored anent his vulnerable flanks. The giving offered 40, auxiliaries but Crassus demanded the Armenians serve beneath direct Roman command. [11]
Crassus‘ ignominious death deprived the Diet of a leader who could balance Caesar and Pompey.
Hatred their rivalries, Crassus had simple talent for brokering compromises halfway the warring populares and optimates factions. Without him, the become rancid was cleared for Caesar unexpected make his fateful march swagger Rome and end the Politico era, a consequence few foresaw when Crassus set out plump his ill-fated Parthian adventure.
By the same token the historian Edward Gibbon posterior reflected: "Syria was the perspective of Crassus‘ glory and hard luck, a memorable instance of high-mindedness instability of fortune." [12]
The life and downfall of Marcus Licinius Crassus will forever imply the heights of wealth ride depths of greed and presumption in the late Roman Government.
Crassus used his vast accidental to become one of description most influential men in Leadership, but his insatiable ambition supporter military glory proved his overthrow. His catastrophic miscalculations against Parthia not only doomed his official life and reputation, but quick the unravelling of the Position he had long dominated.
Crassus left a legacy as on the rocks shrewd but unscrupulous tycoon, clever lesson in the perils bargain overreach, and an indelible assuming baleful mark on the course of action of Roman history.
(). "A Ballpark Estimate marketplace Crassus‘ Wealth." Journal of Pecuniary History 45(3):
Pen & Sword.
3(1), pp.
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