CRASSUS, the surname of several Roman families, and especially of the triumvir Marcus Licinius. When he is first mentioned in history, he is spoken of as exceedingly rich; and it was partly owing to this circumstance that he was appointed to take the command against the revolted gladiators of Capua. In a few days he raised an army of six legions, and marched in quest of the enemy. A battle was fought in the south of Italy, near Rhegium, in which Crasaus was completely victorious, and Spartacua fell with 40,000 of his men. Crassus was rewarded with an ovation on his return ; but the victory having been achieved over slaves, instead of the usual myrtle-wreath, he had a laurel crown. (Aul. Gellius, v. 6) At the time of his expe dition against Spartacus, he held the office of prwtor ; and the follow ing year (e.u.c. 03, 71 n.o.), he was chosen consul with Pompey. The influence which Pompey gained by his popular and engaging manners Crassua succeeded in acquiring by the hospitality and munificence which his immense wealth easily supported. On one occasion he gave a general entertainment to the whole people, and distributed corn enough for three months' provision. No acts of importance however are recorded by historians during this adminis tration. After some years, Cretans and Pompey dropped that determined violence towards each other, which, though frequently concealed, had never been wholly removed, and joined Cmsar in what is called the first triumvirate. While the actual power was almost entirely engrossed by Cresar, he endeavoured to blind Crassua and Pompey to the real state of things by certain concessions which he made. With this view he included them both in a commission for dividing the lands of Campania, and fur settling a colony at Capua, and thus enabled them to provide for some needy adherents to their interests. After a time the alliance was discontinued, but it was renewed again • and in B.C. 56 Pompey and Crassua offered them !selves as for the consulship, in order to keep out Domitiue Ahcnobarbus, who was violently opposed to Ctesar, and would be likely to thwart his designs. Cteaar had been appointed over the province of Oaul for five years ; and Crassua and Pompey, though for some time they concealed their intentions at last succeeded in gaining the provinces of Syria and Spain for the same period and on the same terms. Pompey did not leave immediately fur Spain; but Crassus set out for 13)ria without delay, even before the year of his consulate had expired, B.C. 55. From the great preparations which he made, both in raising forces and in other ways, and from his known avarice, it was clear that a war with the Parthians was the real object at which he aimed; and the joy which he displayed at the prospect of so vast an increase of his wealth Appian (on the 'Parthian Wars,' a 135) describes as perfectly childish and ridiculous. The tribune Ateiva endeavoured to prevent Crassue from going on this expedition, but in vain aud as Crassua was passing through the gates of Rome, the tribune pronounced certain terrjblo imprecations upon him over a small fire, whloh had been lighted according to the usual practice iu such cases. A person thus devoted, it was believed, could
not poseibly escape, and the person who so devoted another could not prosper himself, and therefore it was a course not pursued hastily or an light grounds. (Appian, a. 137 ; Cicero, 'De Divinatione, i. 16.) This consideration increased the alarm which the curse produced iu the people, and even among the army of Crasaue himself. Neverthe less he proceeded by way of Macedonia and the Hellespont, to Asia. He crossed the Euphrates and ravaged Mesopotamia without resist ance. Orodee (Arsaces XIV.), the king of Parthia, being at the time engaged in an invasion of Armenia, his general Surena commanded the Parthian forces against the Romans. A battle was fought near Carrhao between Crasana and Surena, in which Creme was defeated. The clamours of his aoldiera obliged him to accept proposals of peace from Surena, to whom the messengers of the Parthian general promised to lead him. His reaiatanco to their insulting treatment provoked their fury, and they put him to death without delay, D.C. 53. Surena bad his head and right hand cut off and sent to Orodea, and the Parthian monarch is said to have caused melted gold to be poured into the mouth of the Roman general, exclaiming, "Take your fill now of the gold which during life you so coveted." (Dion Cassius, xl. 27.) The Romans are said to have had in this unfortunate campaign 30,000 men killed and taken prisoners.
We have no proof that Crassua possessed talent of any kind, and, but for his wealth, he would probably have been scarcely known. From his father he inherited a large fortune, but the rad of his wealth was not acquired by the most honourable means. He is said to have enriched himself by purchasing at a very low price the estates of those who were proscribed by Syne; also by letting for hire slavea whom he had instructed in variona arts and trades; aud so high was his own standard of opulence, that he said no one could be idols who was not able to maintain an army at pia own expense. With all his avarice he was generally ready to lend money to his friends, and was hospi table without extravagance. Cicero ('Brut.,' sect. 66) represents him as a man of moderate acquirements and slender abilities, but of great industry and perseverance. In another of his works (` Tuao. Qumat.; v. 40) be says, "Crassua was somewhat deaf, but a greater misfortune than this was the bad character which people gave him, though in my opinion unjustly." (Cicero, Epist. ad A tticum, 1. 14,17; iv. 13; Appian, on the Parthian Wars, es. 134.155; Dion Cassius, xxxvi., xxxvii.; Plutarch, Life of Crastus.)