The insurrection of the gladiators and their devastation of Italy, which is generally called the war of Spartacus,1 had its origin as follows. A certain Lentulus Batiatus had a school of gladiators at Capua, most of whom were Gauls and Thracians. Through no misconduct of theirs, but owing to the injustice of their owner, they were kept in close confinement and reserved for gladiatorial combats.
1 73-71 B.C.
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