y.

*Crassus in command, 71 B. C.* In 71 B. C. the consuls displayed no
enthusiasm to undertake the command against Spartacus, and so the Senate
appointed as extraordinary commander the praetor Marcus Licinius Crassus,
one of Sulla's veteran officers, who volunteered his services. After
restoring discipline among his troops, Crassus succeeded in penning up
Spartacus in the peninsula of Bruttium. Spartacus hired some Cilician
pirates to transport him to Sicily, but, after receiving their price, they
abandoned him to his fate. He succeeded in breaking through Crassus'
lines, but his forces divided into two detachments, each of which was
caught and beaten. Spartacus fell in battle; while 6000 of his following
were taken and crucified. Crassus had bent all his energies to bring the
revolt to a close before the arrival of Pompey, who was on his way from
Spain. This he might fairly claim to have accomplished although a body of
5000 slaves who had escaped to North Italy were met by Pompey and
annihilated.

IV. THE CONSULATE OF POMPEY AND CRASSUS: 70 B. C.

*Pompey and Crassus consuls.* Both Pompey and Crassus, flushed by their
victories in Spain and in Italy, now demanded the right to stand for the
consulship for 70 B. C. Both sought triumphs and under this pretext did
not disband their armies. The Senate resisted their claims, for Pompey's
candidature was clearly unconstitutional, and since Crassus was praetor in
71 he was not eligible for the consulate in the following year.
Furthermore both were distrusted because of their ambitious natures. In
view of this opposition Crassus, in spite of mutual jealousy between
himself and Pompey, made overtures to the latter and they agreed to unite
their forces. They also made a bid for the support of the _populares_ by
promising to restore the tribunate to its former privileges and for that
of the equestrians by promising to reinstate them in the jury courts. This
combination overawed senatorial opposition, their candidatures were
legalized by special bills and both were elected. In their consulate the
tribunes were relieved of the restrictions which Sulla had placed upon
their activities, and the jury courts were reorganized. However, the
latter were not given over completely to the equestrians, but each panel
of jurors was to consist of three equal sections, one drawn from the
Senate, one from the _equites_, and one from the _tribuni aerarii_, the
class of citizens