- The Servile Wars (Servus means Slave in Latin) refers to three Slave Rebellions that took place during the Roman Republic between 135-71 BCE.
- The First Servile War took place in Sicily and lasted three years between 135-132 BCE.
The Reason for the Revolt
- It was a reaction of the slaves to the brutal oppression by their Roman owners.
Description (135-132 BCE)
- The Revolt started under Eunus who captured the city of Enna. He was soon joined by another leader called Cleon and the Revolt quickly spread until the slave army numbered 70,000 men and most of Sicily was under their control.
- After attempts to crush the rebels by previous Praetors and Consuls had failed in 134 BCE, Rome sent the Consul Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi in 133 BCE who started to successfully end the Rebellion.
- In 132 BCE he was succeeded by the Consul Publius Rupilius who retook Enna, during which battle Cleon died, and the rest of Sicily fell.
The Outcome
- Eunus was captured but died before he could be formally executed.
- Rupilius crucified 20,000 prisoners after his victory.
The Servile Wars
- First Servile War (135-132 BCE)
- In Sicily led by Eunus and Cleon.
- Second Servile War (104-100 BCE)
- Also in Sicily led by Athenion and Tryphon.
- Third Servile War (73-71 BCE)
- Led by Spartacus
Sicily