
Crixus (died 72 BC) was a Gallic gladiator and a leader of Spartacus' slave uprising during the Third Servile War of 73-71 BC.
Biography[]
Crixus was born in Gaul, and he had a close friendship with fellow gladiator Spartacus while they were both owned by Lentulus Batiatus. In 73 BC, he was one of 70 gladiators to escape from Batiatus' school, and Crixus, Spartacus, and Oenomaus were chosen as the leaders of the uprising by their slave followers. At the end of 73 BC, Crixus led 30,000 followers to plunder the Roman countryside and march on Rome itself while Spartacus and the others planned to march to Gaul and freedom, and Crixus' army was attacked near Mount Garganus by Lucius Gellius Publicola's army in 72 BC. Crixus fought bravely until he was killed, and Spartacus had 300 Roman prisoners fight to the death to honor Crixus.