THE SPARTACUS REVOLT
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:17 pm
THE SPARTACUS REVOLT
73BC: A small group of gladiators escape from their barracks armed only with kitchen knives. Over the next two and a half years, their leader was to threaten the very roots of Roman civilisation – SPARTACUS
This series of battles has been created using the chronology from Barry Strauss’ book 'The Spartacus War' (Phoenix paperback 2009), well worth a read if this period interests you.
Many thanks are owed to fellow FOG player and scenario creator stockwellpete, who has spent far too much of his valuable time marching to glorious victory (and occasional disastrous defeat!) at the head of both the Rebel army and for the Roman republic as we struggled to bring a satisfactory balance to the opposing armies.
If you intend to fight through these battles from both sides’ perspective, I would suggest playing the Roman side first, as then you will ‘benefit’ from the unwelcome surprise element that Spartacus was so good at springing on his unwary foes … And if you intend to play as Spartacus, at least try to avoid getting his unit killed in any of the battles!
SPARTACUS – 1 Spring 73BC - Spartacus and his fellow gladiators have escaped from their barracks in Capua and have been plundering the local area, picking up supporters on the way from the slaves they have freed. As the news becomes more widespread, local bandits and unemployed, disaffected thugs also add to his group. As opposition to his activities increases, Spartacus retreats to the densely wooded slopes of Vesuvius where his growing band can hide and organise.
Spartacus has some experience of leadership as before he became a slave, he had been an Auxiliary in the Roman Army and would have spent time fighting in Thrace, where he was born.
After an initial day or two of confusion, the people of Capua get together an armed party of citizens and militia to hunt down the criminals and bring them to justice before their uprising can become a problem.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?9k9me27qsun9xwn
SPARTACUS – 2 Summer 73BC - Following his success against the forces that the town of Capua sent against him, Spartacus and his men are now better armed. He continues his attacks on the local population from his base near the summit of Vesuvius, each time adding to the growing band of followers by freeing slaves and attracting further recruits from amongst the unruly elements of the Roman countryside.
The Senate in Rome realise that the matter needs a more serious approach and appoint one of the Praetors, C Claudius Glaber, to assemble a legionnary force to deal with the outbreak. This is not as easy as it seems as most of the Roman army is already committed in Spain (dealing with the revolt of Sertorius) and in Asia Minor (establishing control of the lands captured during the war with Mithridates) not to mention that Italy itself is still recovering from the civil war between Sulla and Marius.
None the less, Glaber is able to assemble a force of about 3000 men and sets off to find Spartacus. He identifies the only viable route up to the summit of Vesuvius and builds his camp to block it.
Dawn breaks and we find Glaber ready to advance through the pass and crush the rebels - what he doesn't know is that Spartacus has found a way round the cliffs with a large part of his force and is himself ready to attack ...
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bm1vwiz3na6akud
SPARTACUS - 3 Autumn 73BC - Learning of the defeat of Glaber, the Senate appoint another Praetor, Publius Varinius, to recruit a new force to confront the rebels. They also ask a second Praetor, Lucius Cossinius, to assist Varinius by recruiting a second force, just in case.
Varinius begins to assemble his army and sends one of his Legates, Lucius Furius, ahead with about 2000 men to establish just where Spartacus is. Meanwhile, Spartacus has realised it is time to move on as his own army continues to increase each time he raids a farm and frees it's slaves.
Furius is not aware that Spartacus is on the move and the two forces meet unexpectedly.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?n748d8qrg0pmt7d
SPARTACUS - 4 Autumn 73BC - Again, Spartacus is able to re-arm and equip his men following his defeat of Furius' unprepared legionary detachment.
He now turns his attention to Praetor Lucius Cossinius, who is approaching the area with his own force of freshly recruited legionaries.
Apparently unaware of Furius' fate, Cossinius makes camp for the night, expecting to continue his march in the morning.
Spartacus has other ideas ...
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?i35jy8bya93bi9d
SPARTACUS – 5 Late Autumn 73BC - Each time Spartacus defeats a Roman force he is further able to arm and feed his own men. He now moves swiftly on to attack another of the Roman columns before they can join Varinius.
This time it is the turn of Gaius Toranius, who has not yet joined with Varinius' force and probably unaware that Spartacus is hunting for him.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?smdbps096sj81pe
SPARTACUS – 6 Late Autumn 73BC - Whilst waiting for Toranius to join him, Praetor Publius Varinius has collected together a force of about 4000 men, comprising his own fresh recruits and the survivors of the Glaber, Furius and Cossinius defeats.
He has built and occupied a fort with extensive earthworks near to Spartacus' camp to await events.
By now, Spartacus' forces are thought to number about 10,000 - most of them men. Many will be well armed and as escaped slaves, will be prepared to fight to the death.
As soon as he hears of Toranus' defeat, Varinius realises that he must make the next move.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?uqdh5i081gp0iv5
SPARTACUS – 7 Spring 72BC - Having defeated every army Rome has thrown at him, Spartacus marches south and winters in the foot of Italy. He continues to plunder every town and village he comes across and more and more freed slaves and bandits join his force.
With his army now numbering about 40,000 and becoming unwieldy, he detaches General Crixus with about 15,000 men to operate separately.
Meanwhile in Rome, the new Consul Lucius Gellius sets out with two new legions to try to quell the rebellion. He also appoints a Propraetor, Quintus Arrius with a smaller force to operate in conjunction with him.
They hope to trap Spartacus, but when they learn that Crixus' army is operating alone they march with full speed to attack.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?612b9qgm9l17gmu
SPARTACUS – 8 Spring 72BC - Having destroyed Crixus and his rebel army, Consul Gellius now turns north, to help his colleague Gnaeus Lentulus, the other consul, who has been tasked with destroying Spartacus.
Spartacus has marched northwards and is thought to be operating in the Appenines, central Italy, with about 30,000 rebels.
The Roman plan is to bottle-up the Rebels in one of the mountain passes, with Lentulus at one end and Gellius at the other.
Spartacus' only hope is to destroy one army before the other has time to join the action.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?86ejkchy3xonw5q
SPARTACUS – 9 Summer 72BC - Having defeated both Lentulus and Gellius, Spartacus continues to march north and enters the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul, northern Italy. He continues to sack and plunder every town he encounters.
As he approaches the Latin colony of Mutina (Modena), he is aware that the provincial governor Proconsul Gaius Cassius Longinus with two legions accompanied by Propraetor Cnaius Manlius with additional troops is on the march to intercept him.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?17cedxoa5bdwi5u
SPARTACUS - 10 Autumn 72BC - Following the latest disaster, Rome has granted M Licinius Crassus a special command against Spartacus. He raises six new legions and sends two of them (under General Mummius) to circle around Spartacus, who has now headed south again. Crassus meanwhile trains his men and regroups the survivors of Gellius' and Lentulus' armies.
Spartacus, ever the opportunist, suddenly turns on Mummius as he negotiates difficult ground.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?8kxc3o77phy3itr
SPARTACUS – 11 Late Autumn 72BC - Whilst Mummius is occupying Spartacus' attention, Crassus is able to close in on an isolated group of rebels and bring them to battle. Although still outnumbered, Crassus needs to score a quick victory to bolster his troop's confidence after the long run of defeats.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?he6d3m1lhdcp1hn
SPARTACUS – 12 Early Spring 71BC - Following the defeat of Crixus' army, Spartacus has retreated into the toe of Italy. His original plan of crossing into Sicily comes to nothing and he establishes a camp in the Aspromonte mountains to wait for the Roman army to attack.
Crassus however has other ideas and has fortified a barrier around Spartacus' position and is prepared to wait until the rebel's food supply runs out.
Spartacus first orders part of his force to attack the Romans to test their determination. But his men are thrown back in disorder.
Knowing that this is his last chance to escape, Spartacus waits until just before dawn on a snowy, windy morning and orders his entire army to attack the Roman line.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?3hosb0scr4a6m57
SPARTACUS – 13 Spring 71 BC - Following his escape from Crassus' trap, Spartacus heads north. Disagreements over food shortages cause part of his army to split off on their own, the Celts and Germans under Castus and Cannicus preferring to head towards Rome in search of plunder and revenge.
Crassus sees an opportunity to engage this smaller contingent and catches up with them as they are camped next to a lake in central Italy. He forms his battle line in clear view, but also shows that he has learned from his previous encounters with Spartacus and tries a flanking march with part of his force.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yuqlwr2dc562rue
SPARTACUS – 14 Late Spring 71BC - Crassus, having only missed a complete victory over the isolated rebel army because of reports that Spartacus' army is approaching, now determines a new plan to defeat both rebel armies.
He knows that both rebel armies are camped close together. He decides to split his force, hoping to lure one rebel army in one direction, whilst he destroys the other. His plan has to work or he will be destroyed himself by their overwhelming numbers.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zxac467hlldj731
SPARTACUS – 15 Early Summer 71BC - Having been unable to prevent the destruction of the rebel army of Castus and Cannicus, Spartacus retreats southwards with what is left of his followers.
Crassus, learning of this, sends part of his force to shadow Spartacus, then follows on with the rest of his army.
Spartacus wins a small engagement when the Roman shadowing force gets too close but continues his retreat towards the port of Brundisium, no doubt to try to flee Italy with his army. However, he receives the unwelcome news that a Roman army under General Marcus Lucullus has just landed there, returning from the wars in Thrace.
Trapped between two armies, Spartacus' only choice is to turn and face Crassus. He knows that this will be a fight to the death as he has nowhere left to run.
LINK http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?4yc86ndokhju61b
