The Obligatory Pirate Connection With On This Day in Ancient History

On this day in 53 B.C. Marcus Licinius Crassus died. Crassus was a member of the first triumvirate along with Pompey and Caesar. He was a very wealthy and greedy man, but not as capable a military leader as Pompey or Caesar. However, it was largely through Crassus' efforts that the rebellion of Spartacus was put down in 71 B.C., even though Pompey took the credit.

Pirate Connection:
Later, Pompey, using extralegal powers, quickly got rid of the pirate scourge of the day, in 67/66 B.C. Pirates were such a menace during the late Roman Republic that they had even kidnapped Julius Caesar. They were a bit too cocky for their own good. Caesar warned them that he would get his revenge, but they stuck around long enough anyway and Caesar kept his word.

• Pompey and the Pirates
• Plutarch: Pompey and the Pirates
• Plutarch: Caesar and the Pirates

Now back to Crassus:
In 53 B.C. Crassus was governor of Syria. He was attempting to earn glory for himself by invading Parthia, even though there was no justification for it. Crassus was killed.

Read more about Crassus in Bingley's Biography of Crassus.