Publius Licinius Crassus

Publius Licinius Crassus was the son of the triumvir, one of Caesar's best officers in Gaul, and died at Carrhae in front of his father. Born around 86 BC, he was the younger son of Marcus Licinius Crassus, the richest man in Rome. He was educated well, was a friend and patron of the Greek philosopher Apollonius, and Cicero — who disliked his father — wrote of him with real warmth as a young man of exceptional promise. He served under Caesar in Gaul from 58 BC with a cavalry command and was given independent operations almost at once. In 57 BC he was sent with a single legion to subdue the whole Atlantic seaboard, and received the submission of the tribes of Normandy and Brittany. In 56 BC he fought in the Aquitanian campaign in the south-west, where he was outnumbered heavily, refused to be drawn, found that the enemy camp was unfortified at the rear, and took it by sending cavalry round while the assault held their attention. Caesar credits him with the subjugation of a third of Gaul. He returned to Rome and brought a thousand Gallic cavalry east with his father in 53 BC. At Carrhae, with the army halted and being shot to pieces by Parthian horse archers, he took the cavalry and some infantry out to break the encirclement, was cut off on a hillock, and ordered his shield-bearer to kill him. His head was raised on a spear in front of the Roman line. His father was killed days later, and his widow Cornelia married Pompey.

• Lived: 86 BCE – 53 BCE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: general