Game: Explain Your Nickname, easy, eh? Options

[Sabbattack]

Ok, this is not a forum game per se, but wtf!!

The rules are simple. Explain in a few words what your nickname means and why did you choose it. I'll start:

Sabbattack: Sabbat + attack

I'm a big fan of the 80's thrash band Sabbat, and since Martin (the band's frontman) is known for his great use of english idioms and puns, i made this one myself to honour him!!!

[Spartacus]

SpArTaCuS the Thracian Gladiator .... slave or an idealist?


Spartacus was born in Thrace, became a soldier, and was captured by the Romans. He was sold as a slave to be made a gladiator. With 70 comrades, he escaped, hid on Mount Vesuvius, and raised a large army of rebel slaves. With his army he defeated two Roman legions. Spartacus intended to lead the slaves over the Alps and out of Italy, but the slaves forced him to march on Rome. A fresh Roman army under Crassus finally defeated Spartacus and his men. After his defeat, 6000 men were crucified along the Via Appia as a warning to other slaves.

Slavery had become an important part of Roman life. They became rampant as the patricians became lazy and rich after the spoils of the Wars of Expansion reached Rome, and prisoners of war became a source of free labour. In the latter part of the 1st Century BC, war and piracy maintained a constant stream of slaves into Rome. Roman society had also degraded, as a result of the popularity of blood sports, especially gladiator fights (munera). It seems that the Romans utilised slaves and prisoners as fodder for the gladiators and lions in the arena. Some slaves even managed to have the privilege of being trained as a gladiator. One such person was Spartacus.

As a young Thracian, Spartacus worked in the fields of his homeland. Somehow, he ended up serving as a Roman auxillary in the legions. He deserted, and upon recapture was demoted to slavery. During his slavery, he was sent to Capua, where he underwent training as a gladiator. In 73, he led a group of several other gladiators and fled the gladiatorial college, capturing Mount Vesuvius. Slaves in nearby regions were suddenly motivated to fight for their freedom, and they readily joined his band. With swelling numbers, Spartacus' force overrun much of Campania and Lucania - defeating the minimal opposition sent by Rome. Despite having a following of around 70 000, Spartacus knew that the well-equipped and numerous Roman legions would easily suppress his ragtag band if the Romans decided to make any sort of effort. He suggested moving beyond the borders of the province of Italia, perhaps to the Alps, but the Gauls and Goths vetoed this decision, prefering to terrorise Italian villages for money and goods. Spartacus was forced to remain in Italy, and moved south to avoid unwanted attention from the legions.


It took the most part of a year for the Roman Senate to decide that Spartacus was a threat to internal security. In 72, the Senate ordered the consuls to crush the slave revolt. Surprisingly, the consular armies were defeated three times - separated and united. Spartacus continued to push his men to the north, defeating the proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul at Mutina. His plan to escape into Gaul was again thwarted by his men who did not wish to leave Italy. With such stubborn troops, Spartacus probably decided to escape to Sicily, and moved southwards.


The Roman Senate was disgusted by the incompetence of the consuls and proconsul, and placed Crassus in command of six legions. Despite not holding any magistracy or office, Crassus was the only competent (or proven) general who was in Italy at the time. Unfortunately, his initial attempt to contain the rebels failed, and the Concilium Plebis contemplated summoning Pompey who was heading home from Spain. In the absolute south of Italy, M. Lucullus pushed back the rebels after arriving at Brundisium from Thrace. Crassus then eliminated the rebel forces swiftly, glad that he would not be seen as inferior to Pompey in terms of ability and success. Spartacus was killed, and 6000 supporters were crucified along the Appian Way (main road out of Rome).


Crassus' victory was overshadowed by the return of Pompey. Some of Spartacus' band fled before they could be captured, but were intercepted by Pompey's returning forces (probably due to chance rather than planning by Pompey). He sent a message to the Roman Senate, claiming that he finished the war against the rebels.


The revolt of Spartacus sent a clear message to the Roman people. There was unrest and dissent amongst the slave population in Roman territory. There would be an ever present threat to Roman internal security with such dissent, and as a result, the use of slaves diminished slightly and gradually. Social attitudes also changed, with certain patricians opposed to using slaves. The introduction of the colonate (use of free tenants) proved to be relatively popular. But, slave labour continued for a long time after the fall of Spartacus. The episode also was a precursor to increasing tensions between Pompey and Crassus, which would have explosive results in later events.