The name Crixus, derived from the Gaulish term for "one with curly hair," identified a military leader whose involvement in the Third Servile War shifted the balance of Roman internal stability. Originally enslaved in Gaul and trained as a gladiator in Capua, he emerged as a critical commander during the significant 73 BC uprising against the Roman Republic.
Escape from Capua
The insurrection originated within the gladiatorial school owned by Lentulus Batiatus in Capua. Approximately 70 gladiators seized their freedom, effectively defeating the local forces mobilized to intercept them. The group retreated to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, establishing a fortified position. As the movement expanded, the former slaves appointed Crixus as a primary leader alongside Spartacus and Oenomaus. This alliance successfully executed tactical maneuvers, including a descent down the cliffs of Vesuvius to ambush the Roman camp from the rear, which served to draw thousands of additional runaways to their cause.
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By the end of 73 BC, the coalition experienced a fracture when Crixus and a contingent of approximately 30,000 followers separated from the main slave army. Historical accounts offer differing interpretations of this split. Some suggest Crixus intended to engage in looting across the Roman countryside or move directly against Rome, while others speculate that the separation served a calculated, broader strategic purpose alongside Spartacus. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their underlying motives, the division fundamentally altered the trajectory of the rebellion.
Conflict at Mount Gargano
In 72 BC, the forces commanded by Crixus encountered the legions of the Roman consul Lucius Gellius Publicola near Mount Gargano. The Roman deployment utilized the terrain to their advantage, holding the crest of a hill. Crixus ordered three successive assaults against the elevated defensive line, all of which failed. The engagement resulted in the destruction of approximately two-thirds of his forces and the death of Crixus himself. In a final act of acknowledgement, Spartacus held mock gladiatorial games, forcing hundreds of captured Roman soldiers to fight to the death in honor of the fallen commander.
Fast facts
- Origin: Gaul
- Occupation: Gladiator, military leader
- Conflict: Third Servile War
- Leadership Role: General of rebel slaves
- Death: 72 BC, Apulia
- Antagonist: Lucius Gellius Publicola
- Historical Source: Appian, Livy, Florus, Sallust
Questions readers ask
Did Crixus work with Spartacus?
Yes, Crixus served as one of the leaders of the slave uprising alongside Spartacus and Oenomaus until their forces split in late 73 BC.
How did Crixus die?
He was killed in 72 BC while leading his followers in three failed assaults against the legions of Lucius Gellius Publicola near Mount Gargano in Apulia.
