Mt Vesuvius 73 BC

Slave Army vs Romans

Historical Background
The greatest slave revolt against Rome was led by a gladiator named Spartacus. He was a Thracian slave, trained as a gladiator by his owner, Lentulus Batiatus, at a gladiatorial school near Capua. Spartacus escaped from the school with 78 fellow gladiators. After some successful skirmishes with local guards, his force set about raiding the countryside, freeing more slaves to join their ranks. Spartacus set up a base on the defensible slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Remembering the earlier Slave Wars in Sicily, the Senate in Rome took this outbreak seriously. They dispatched Praetors Claudius Glaber and Publius Varinius with 3,000 men to suppress the uprising. Glaber and Varinius blockaded Spartacus at his base on Mount Vesuvius, intending to starve out the slaves since their camp was only accessible by a narrow and difficult passage. The wily Spartacus did not intend to be starved into submission, so he devised a daring plan. He ordered ladders to be made from the vines that grew on Vesuvius. Spartacus and most of his followers quietly descended the vine ladders, undetected by the Romans. Soon, a picked force of the slaves rushed the Roman camp from the mountain. Once the Romans were fully occupied by this attack, Spartacus and his force struck unexpectedly. Attacked from both sides, the Roman camp fell in short order. This victory over regular Roman forces allowed Spartacus to expand his operations and recruit a massive slave army.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history.

War Council

Slave Army
• Leader: Spartacus
• 6 Command Cards
• Move First

Roman Army
• Leaders: Claudius Glaber and Publius Varinius
• 4 Command Cards

Victory
5 Banners

Special Rules
• All the hills are considered impassable terrain.

• If a Slave unit occupies a Roman camp hex at the start of the Slave player’s turn, the Slave player gains one Victory Banner that cannot be lost. Remove the camp hex terrain tile and collect the Victory Banner before playing a command card.

• Marius Legions Rule is in effect.

• ‘I Am Spartacus’ Slave player rule is in effect.