I am Spartacus!

3. Herculaneum

Roma, Lazio

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The spoils of victory ensured, the gladiators acquired a supply of good arms and armor, and with this, their reputation and popularity continued to grow. By the autumn of 73AD, Spartacus' fame was such that he had collected together a band of 40,000 men, who were able to freely wander the Italian countryside, raiding farms at will. Spartacus' military training proved useful, and he put his forces to good effect. The local shepherds and farmhands made particularly excellent scouts. The scouts' understanding of the landscape meant there was always an ever-watchful eye kept out for Spartacus' army, and he was soon informed of Roman soldiers entering the area. It was this advance warning that meant the second expedition sent to subdue the revolt was easily spotted. Publius Varinius was put in charge and dispatched two separate Roman cohorts of 2,000 men to bring the situation under control. Lacking good knowledge of the local surroundings and suffering from the effects of a damp, cold autumn, Varinius struggled with the campaign. An outbreak of disobedience by the new recruits and his own underestimation of both the situation and Spartacus' troops' abilities formed a recipe for disaster. The first force, which was under the command of Lieutenant Furius, was trapped within sight of Vesuvius. Spartacus' men, familiar with the terrain, managed to surround the unsuspecting troops, killing them outright. The army that followed, directed by Cossinius, was discovered by rebel scouts camping and enjoying a bath in a villa at Salinae, not far from the prosperous town of Herculaneum. The ensuing battle was swift and bloody, and Cossinius only managed to escape by sheer luck. Spartacus, not wishing to lose the advantage, pressed hard and had his men chase after Cossinius. It didn't take the knowledgeable locals long to track down and kill the luckless leader, along with the remnants of his bedraggled force. The victory once again added to Spartacus' reputation. He filled his armory with the weapons of the fallen Romans, and even more slaves were drawn to the cause.