The Rise and Fall of the Roman Slave Army

The 70 who had initially broken out of the Gladiator school found themselves backed up by 70,000 of their closest friends. Spartacus led the bulk of the newly minted army north while Criskus peeled off with about 30,000 to stay in southern Italy and suck up whatever wasn't nailed down. By most accounts, Spartacus's main aim was to make his way north and get out of Italy. His fellow commander, Crick's however, seemed much more enamored with a life spent pillaging the Roman countryside. But regular legions are not drafted militias, and untested paraders are not seized in consuls.