Crassus

Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Rome and died pursuing a military reputation he could not buy. Born around 115 BC into a distinguished family, he fled to Spain when Marius and Cinna killed his father and brother, and returned with Sulla. He built his fortune on the proscriptions, buying the confiscated property of the murdered at nominal prices, and added to it by a system that was extortion in all but name: he kept a trained fire brigade of some five hundred slaves, and when a building burned he would offer the owner a fraction of its value, buying only if the price was accepted before putting the fire out. He also ran silver mines and enormous numbers of skilled slaves whom he trained and hired out. He commanded the war against Spartacus in 71 BC, revived decimation to restore discipline, and destroyed the slave army — then watched Pompey, returning from Spain, mop up survivors and claim the credit. The two were consuls together in 70 BC and detested each other. In 60 BC Crassus joined Pompey and Caesar in the alliance later called the First Triumvirate, supplying the money; he had financed Caesar's early career and guaranteed his debts. Renewed at Luca in 56 BC, the arrangement gave him a second consulship and the province of Syria, and he took it in order to conquer Parthia and match the others' military standing. He crossed the Euphrates in 53 BC and was destroyed at Carrhae by horse archers and cataphracts, losing about twenty thousand men and the eagles. He was killed during negotiations; a story has molten gold poured into his mouth.

• Lived: 115 BCE – 53 BCE
• Nationality: Italian
• Roles: general, politician, businessman