1. Biography of Marcus Crassus
2. Military Successes
3. The First Triumvirate
4. Political Maneuvering
5. The First Triumvirate

Biography of Marcus Crassus

Early Life

Marcus Crassus, also known as Dives (The Rich), was a Roman politician who was a part of the first triumvirate along with Caesar and Pompey. He came from an ancient and wealthy Roman family. His father and brother died during Marius' proscriptions in 87 BC, but he managed to escape to Spain and later joined Sulla after his return from the East.

Military Successes

Crassus played a significant role in Sulla's victory over Marius' supporters in the decisive battle near the Colline Gate in Rome in 82 BC. He skillfully speculated on the property confiscated from Sulla's victims, further increasing his already substantial fortune and securing his financial interests with the equestrian class. However, he chose a senatorial career and became a praetor around 73 BC. After that, Crassus led an army and defeated the slave rebellion led by Spartacus in southern Italy in 72-71 BC.

The First Triumvirate

Pompey belittled Crassus' successes, claiming that only his victory over the remnants of the rebels pushing northward put an end to the revolt. Although Crassus and Pompey did not trust each other, they thought it wise to join forces to achieve power. They were elected consuls in 70 BC. Once in power, they abolished Sulla's constitution, restored the position of the tribunes of the plebs, and allocated some judicial seats to the equestrian class.

Political Maneuvering

Crassus opposed the legislative proposals of Gabinius and Manilius to grant extraordinary powers to Pompey. Moreover, while Pompey was fighting in the East (67-63 BC), Crassus provided political support to Julius Caesar and took various steps to strengthen his position by the time Pompey returned. In 65 BC, as a censor, Crassus advocated for the annexation of Egypt and granting Roman citizenship to the inhabitants of Cisalpine Gaul. In 64 BC, Crassus supported Catiline's candidacy in the consular elections, and in 63 BC, he promoted a bill for the distribution of state lands. Crassus was also suspected of involvement in the Catilinarian conspiracy. Although all of Crassus' plans failed, Pompey disbanded his troops upon his return to Italy in 62 BC. Furthermore, Crassus and Pompey soon became allies.

The First Triumvirate

When the Senate attempted to humiliate Pompey, he joined Crassus and Caesar in forming the first triumvirate in 60 BC, a political alliance that defined Rome's political life for several years. Relations between Pompey and Crassus became tense again in 57 BC, but after a meeting in Luca in 56 BC, their agreement was restored.

Statesmen