Spartacus and His Army Escape Italy

[MerryPrankster]

During Spartacus's revolt, he'd defeated Roman armies barring the way into northern Italy and Gaul and could have left Italy entirely.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Servile_War

However, for reasons unknown, the slave army went south and became trapped in southern Italy. There was an attempt to get some pirates to carry them to Sicily and organize a slave revolt there, but that failed.

Soo....

Some ideas:

1. After defeating the Romans at Mutina, the slave army keeps going north into Gaul. Wikipedia suggests the slaves would be dispersed to where they came from originally, but given how Spartacus was apparently from Dacia and I imagine the slaves would have come from all over, that would be kind of hard. Plus the Romans might hunt for the escaped slaves, who would not have the numbers to defend themselves.

(Of course, this is before the Gallic War, so the Romans would have only controlled part of Gaul and sending soldiers into Gaul to hunt slaves would have started another war.)

2. The pirates don't betray the slaves or the slaves manage to build their own ships and cross to Sicily. Sicily was a powder-keg of abused slaves and corrupt governance, but in prior discussion on the board, someone tried to make the point that Sicily would not be defensible--there were too many potential landing sites to defend.

3. The slaves get transported to Asia Minor and link up with Mithridates. This would require the Cicilian pirates, since building one's own rafts and ships to cross to Sicily is one thing, but crossing to Asia Minor is something else entirely.

4. Other options.

I posted this story here in 2006:

http://www.asimovs.com/_issue_0501/gladiatorswar.shtml

A different Third Servile War that features a lot of the gladiators escaping to help Mithridates, while the rest get into Spain somehow and there's a gotterdamurung there where everybody dies. Of course, it also features Spartacus burning Rome, which is...tricky.

 

[Russian]

During Spartacus's revolt, he'd defeated Roman armies barring the way into northern Italy and Gaul and could have left Italy entirely.

Well, Spartacus seems to get screwed anyway.

But he might get unbelievably lucky and he might fight his way to Northern Gaul and settle somewhere there. This way he would buy himself about twelve years (till Julies Caesar appears definitely wishing to revenge).

So the best way for Spartacus's army would be to move somewhere to Dacia, Illiria, Thrace. They might even try to settle somewhere in Crimea (as the Goths would do).

Definitely the main problem was that nobody there was waiting for a bunch of ruthless cutthroats, army of slaves on a run from the most powerful Empire on the Earth.
But if they were lucky they could find some hostility among the aborigines going on and support one party against the other. The riches plundered in Italy might help to find some allies as well. And they might settle there for good.

That might be quite an interesting country
Their descendants would probably support Dacians in their wars against the Romans. They might create some problems for Emperor Trajan.

 

[Lysandros Aikiedes]

The most likely places to escape to were the Alps and Sicily. The Romans in the 70's BCE had an economic hegemony over the Gallic states, but I'm not certain they would think it worth the hassle pursuing the rebel slaves beyond the Alps. There were more where they came from, so they would be glad at least not having them in Italy any more. Except maybe for the Gaulish slaves who would have the opportunity to return to their tribes, the remaining ethnically heterogeneous admixture would either live like bandits or form new communities in the wilderness between more established tribal communities. Those with combat skill may find employment in the military retinues of chieftains, which may or may not be a risky proposition. I guess it depends on their patrons relationship with the Romans.

If the rebels manage to ferry any of their numbers to Sicily, they could possibly decide to flee into the Madonie mountains in north-eastern Sicily and live like Maroons.

 

[CandyDragon]

If the rebels end up in Sicily, it's basically, to quote Admiral Akhbar, "A trap!"

They'd be bottled in for when the Romans came to mop them up, regardless of whether their rebellion fermenting schemes succeeded.

 

[Lysandros Aikiedes]

If the rebels end up in Sicily, it's basically, to quote Admiral Akhbar, "A trap!"

They'd be bottled in for when the Romans came to mop them up, regardless of whether their rebellion fermenting schemes succeeded.

Certainly. But for most of the slaves, they only seem to have short-term solutions anyway.

 

[wcv215]

The most likely places to escape to were the Alps and Sicily. The Romans in the 70's BCE had an economic hegemony over the Gallic states, but I'm not certain they would think it worth the hassle pursuing the rebel slaves beyond the Alps.

Oh they would, if nothing else it would give Caesar even more tinder for starting up the conquest of Gaul. The Romans weren't going to allow some slaves to humiliate their armies, run away from Rome and get away with it. When Caesar comes across the Alps, or one of the other Romans they are going to hunt down as many as possible, capture them alive if possible and then parade them through the streets of Rome to remind everyone exactly why you didn't rebel against the state.

A fun way of looking at it would be if Crassus or Pompey pursued the slaves across into Gaul, and annexed it early leaving Caesar with taking on Parthia.

 

[Lysandros Aikiedes]

Hunting down escaped slaves isn't a strong enough pretext for military conquest. Caesar's campaigns in Gaul over a decade later, started out officially to rescue Rome's Aedui allies from the Suebi and the Sequani, but was in reality to increase his personal wealth and political status. Not such an easy task at the time.

 

[wcv215]

Hunting down escaped slaves isn't a strong enough pretext for military conquest. Caesar's campaigns in Gaul over a decade later, started out officially to rescue Rome's Aedui allies from the Suebi and the Sequani, but was in reality to increase his personal wealth and political status. Not such an easy task at the time.

Hunting slaves isn't the point here. The point is taking revenge for Roman military humiliation and crushing a rebellion. The Roman state cannot allow anyone to get away with it at this point, if they do what is to stop the next group of revolutionaries from saying, "why not? Spartacus did it, and we aren't a bunch of slaves, barbarians, etc. so we can do it better."

 

[Lysandros Aikiedes]

Hunting slaves isn't the point here. The point is taking revenge for Roman military humiliation and crushing a rebellion. The Roman state cannot allow anyone to get away with it at this point, if they do what is to stop the next group of revolutionaries from saying, "why not? Spartacus did it, and we aren't a bunch of slaves, barbarians, etc. so we can do it better."

Unless all of the rebel slaves remain in a single compact group after their exodus from Italy, the Romans are going to have a hard time tracking them all down. They might just settle with issuing a bounty on the rebel leaders to the Celtic kings in Gaul and the Alpine regions (wherever the rebels go). In the meantime, the Senate may just settle for a propaganda victory unless or until the ringleaders are captured.

If however the slaves are forced to remain together, then they would have difficulty gaining acceptance amongst the Gauls anyway, given that the Aedui, Arverni and Allobroges are Roman clients. Spartacus might decide to go east via the Alps, but then he and his followers might be forced to face the Norici/Taurisci federation, who are on good terms with the Romans.

 

[Johnrankins]

Well, Spartacus seems to get screwed anyway.

But he might get unbelievably lucky and he might fight his way to Northern Gaul and settle somewhere there. This way he would buy himself about twelve years (till Julies Caesar appears definitely wishing to revenge).

So the best way for Spartacus's army would be to move somewhere to Dacia, Illiria, Thrace. They might even try to settle somewhere in Crimea (as the Goths would do).

Definitely the main problem was that nobody there was waiting for a bunch of ruthless cutthroats, army of slaves on a run from the most powerful Empire on the Earth.
But if they were lucky they could find some hostility among the aborigines going on and support one party against the other. The riches plundered in Italy might help to find some allies as well. And they might settle there for good.

That might be quite an interesting country
Their descendants would probably support Dacians in their wars against the Romans. They might create some problems for Emperor Trajan.

Best place is probably some place remote in Germany or Gaul. Hopefully somewhere the locals are too busy fighting each other to fight the newcomers.

 

[Superwes]

http://www.asimovs.com/_issue_0501/gladiatorswar.shtml

You wrote this? I think it's amazing.

 

[MerryPrankster]

You wrote this? I think it's amazing.

No, I did not write it. I found it online and posted it here years ago.

I wish I were so lucky (or talented) as to be published in Asimov's. They're at the top of the short story market food chain.

 

[Janprimus]

Best place is probably some place remote in Germany or Gaul. Hopefully somewhere the locals are too busy fighting each other to fight the newcomers.

Roman gold and other gifts could suffice to let them set aside their differences just long enough to fight the newcomers. Besides it's very likely that the local ruling class doesn't want to share their resources (which are kind of zero sum) with newcomers, unless the newcomers at least are willing to pay tribute.

 

[Lysandros Aikiedes]

Roman gold and other gifts could suffice to let them set aside their differences just long enough to fight the newcomers. Besides it's very likely that the local ruling class doesn't want to share their resources (which are kind of zero sum) with newcomers, unless the newcomers at least are willing to pay tribute.

Are we speaking of Germania or Gaul, here? Because the latter had an abundance of gold, which was one of the main reasons for the Roman conquest in the first place.

 

[Janprimus]

Are we speaking of Germania or Gaul, here? Because the latter had an abundance of gold, which was one of the main reasons for the Roman conquest in the first place.

Both, the point I was making, was that Roman diplomacy (supported by gold or something else) could be used to influence the locals to be hostile towards the newcomers. I doubt that many would actually want to help the newcomers, if it would mean angering the great power Rome (even if they wouldn't really like Rome).

 

[ahunter951]

Spartacus had one choice

Realistically the Romans couldnt afford to let Spartacus escape with his slave army. The whole of Roman society depended on the availabilty of slaves. To have allowed Spartacus to escape would have increased the likelihood of similar revolts throughout the empire. Spartacus had to be crushed and seen to be, hence the brutal manner of how the captured slaves were treated after the defeat of Spartacus. By contrast Spartacus knew the romans would not allow him to live within the Empire or even adjacent to it. His army of slaves remained together whilst within the confines of the Italian mainland for mutal protection. Had he moved into other provinces his army would have begun to disperse and slip away as slaves returned to their homelands. Similarly tribes bordering the roman empire would not wish to have a slave army on its doorstep anymore than a Roman army. It would attract the attention of Rome and the slaves may well start to carve out their own empire within a border region. Spartacus only chance was to defeat the Roman armies sent to destroy him. Realistically once faced with two or three Roman legions on an open battlefield the slave army would stand virtually no chance. They could only hope to face and defeat garrison auxillary forces or recce forces detached from the main legions. He was also forced to keep moving in order to feed his army. The roman strategy was to identify where Spartacus main force was, corral him and bring up the legions to offer open battle and thereby destroy him completely in one main engagement

 

[Russian]

Best place is probably some place remote in Germany or Gaul. Hopefully somewhere the locals are too busy fighting each other to fight the newcomers.

I would suggest this place for Spartacus. Somewhere behind the Dacian Kingdom.

First thing - make an alliance with young and ambitious Burebista. Or even better - Spartacus became a nominal vassal of Dacia. And they both fight against their mutual enemies.
If the Romans wanted to punish their rebellious slaves they would have to fight against the aggressive Dacian Empire as well no doubt.

Of course, some of Spartacus' warriors disperse to their home countries. But some nucleus would stay and form a new country. I guess their spoken language was Latin. Their way of making war was similar to the Roman one. A lot of Roman captives, deserters and the like. That would be an interesting culture if they survived for a long time.

 

[Lysandros Aikiedes]

Both, the point I was making, was that Roman diplomacy (supported by gold or something else) could be used to influence the locals to be hostile towards the newcomers. I doubt that many would actually want to help the newcomers, if it would mean angering the great power Rome (even if they wouldn't really like Rome).

As long as they're still in a single large horde, its doubtful that the Romans would even need to give much encouragement for the Gaulish tribal-states to challenge the escapees. Except for the actual Gauls in this group, who have the option of dropping out and seeking refuge or employment from their own kind, the rest of this heterogeneous group won't be so lucky. I don't think the Romans would necessarily need to pursue them all to get their revenge.

 

[kasumigenx]

I would suggest this place for Spartacus. Somewhere behind the Dacian Kingdom.

First thing - make an alliance with young and ambitious Burebista. Or even better - Spartacus became a nominal vassal of Dacia. And they both fight against their mutual enemies.
If the Romans wanted to punish their rebellious slaves they would have to fight against the aggressive Dacian Empire as well no doubt.

Of course, some of Spartacus' warriors disperse to their home countries. But some nucleus would stay and form a new country. I guess their spoken language was Latin. Their way of making war was similar to the Roman one. A lot of Roman captives, deserters and the like. That would be an interesting culture if they survived for a long time.

That means Spartacus goes to the Slavs, that sounds very ironic.

 

[Henriksson]

That means Spartacus goes to the Slavs, that sounds very ironic.

You're quite a few centuries out of place.