Marcus Crassus

Also known as: Crassus · Family: Roman · Role: colleague of Scipio · First appears: Fabius

When Cinna and Caius Marius seized power, they killed Marcus Crassus’s father and brother, forcing him, still very young, to flee to Spain with three friends and ten servants. One of his brothers dying, he married his widow and had children by her, including Publius Crassus and Piso. During his early years, Vibius Pacianus helped him while he was in hiding, and Alexander instructed him and entered his service. Crassus joined Metellus Pius but left after a disagreement, then went to Sylla, “by whom he was very much esteemed.”

As a Roman, Crassus became Cornelius Scipio’s colleague, and Fabius Maximus urged him not to yield command to Scipio. His rivalry with Pompey began as an emulation for glory, though they later joined in the consulship; he lived on friendly terms with Caesar, helped reconcile Caesar and Pompey, and joined their alliance. He was appointed general against Spartacus, sending Mummius against the enemy and fighting Caius Cannicius and Castus. Later, his pursuit of wealth and trophies brought rivalry with Caesar, while his political contests involved Domitius and Cato the Younger; he hired men to attack them for the consulship and struck Lucius Analius, leaving him bleeding. His hatred of Cicero lasted afterward, while Lutatius Catulus was his mild colleague.

When Syria fell to him and Spain to Pompey, Crassus entered the Parthian war, mistakenly treating it as easy. Artabazes urged him to invade through Armenia, but Crassus chose Mesopotamia; Ariamnes lured him toward the open plain, and he faced Surena. Cassius, Octavius, and Petronius were among those with him as the campaign turned against him, while Andromachus was called faithless. During negotiations, Crassus was killed by the Parthian Pomaxathres, though accounts differed over whether Pomaxathres killed him or only cut off his head and right hand after his fall.