Marcus Licinius Crassus - The Richest Man In Rome

Early Life

Marcus Licinius Crassus was born around 115 BC into a wealthy and influential Roman family. His father, Publius Licinius Crassus, was a prominent senator and a successful general who served as consul in 97 BC. The Crassus family belonged to the plebeian nobility, known for their political and military achievements. This heritage placed Marcus in a privileged position within Roman society, surrounded by the values and expectations of the elite.

The period of Crassus's early life was marked by significant political and social upheaval. The Roman Republic was grappling with internal conflicts, including the Social War (91-88 BC) between Rome and its Italian allies, who demanded citizenship rights. Additionally, the rivalry between the populares, who advocated for the rights of the common people, and the optimates, the conservative senatorial aristocracy, defined the political landscape. These conflicts would shape Crassus's ambitions and strategies as he sought to make a name for himself.

Ascension and Early Career

Crassus's early career was influenced heavily by his father's connections and his family's standing. His father and brother were both killed during the Marian purges of 87 BC, when Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna took control of Rome. Following this tragedy, Crassus fled to Hispania (modern-day Spain), where he began to rebuild his fortune and political influence.

Returning to Rome after Sulla's victory in the civil war, Crassus aligned himself with Sulla, serving as a quaestor and later as a military commander. His shrewdness in acquiring wealth became evident during this period. Crassus capitalized on Sulla's proscriptions, purchasing confiscated properties at low prices and amassing a considerable fortune. This wealth enabled him to gain significant political leverage.

Possibly The Richest Man In Rome

When studying Crassus, one of the things that stood out most was how shrewd of a businessman he was. Love him or hate him, he was exceptionally good at finding opportunities and capitalizing on them. This unique ability allowed him to go on to heavily influence Roman society in later years.

It’s important to remember that during the time of Rome, your influence was accumulated in one of two ways, military success and political success. Both involved the need for large amounts of capital. Raising and supporting an army is not cheap, and paying for favors and supporting local citizens is equally expensive.

Here is how Crassus was able to accumulate his wealth. It’s hard to say exactly how much he piled into his private coffers but some historians think he was the richest man in Rome for a period of time.

Exploitation of Proscriptions: One of the most significant sources of Crassus's wealth came from the proscriptions initiated by Lucius Cornelius Sulla during his dictatorship (82-79 BC). The proscriptions were essentially a state-sponsored purge of Sulla's enemies, whose properties were confiscated and auctioned off for pennies on the dollar. Crassus capitalized on this by purchasing vast amounts of land and properties at highly discounted prices, often using intimidation and coercion to ensure favorable deals.

Firefighting and Real Estate: Crassus developed a unique and highly profitable approach to real estate. He organized his own private firefighting brigade, a rare service in ancient Rome. When a fire broke out, his brigade would arrive at the scene, but they would not start extinguishing the flames until the property owner agreed to sell the property to Crassus at a significantly reduced price. Once the deal was made, the firefighters would then put out the fire, and Crassus would often rebuild and rent out or resell the property at a substantial profit.

Slave Trade: Crassus invested heavily in the slave trade, a highly lucrative business in ancient Rome. He owned numerous slaves, many of whom were skilled laborers, such as builders and architects. These slaves were employed in his various construction projects, further increasing his wealth.

Mining Operations: Crassus owned silver mines in Spain, which were another substantial source of income. The mines produced significant quantities of silver, a valuable commodity in ancient Rome.

Lending and Financial Services: Crassus also acted as a moneylender. He provided loans to various individuals and political figures, often at high-interest rates. This not only earned him substantial returns but also allowed him to wield considerable influence over his debtors.

One story that particular stood out to me was this idea that Crassus hosted a dinner for every citizen in Rome. This wasn’t the first time someone had accomplished this feat, but the amount of money and logistics this takes is mind boggling.

The story of Marcus Licinius Crassus hosting a grand dinner banquet for the entire population of Rome is a testament to his immense wealth and his strategic use of it to gain political favor and influence. Although specific historical records of such a singular event may not be detailed, it aligns with the known practices of Roman politicians who used their wealth to curry favor with the populace.

The Grand Banquet

In ancient Rome, politicians often engaged in acts of largesse, known as "largitio," to win the support of the masses. Crassus, known for his incredible wealth, would have used a grand banquet as a means to display his generosity and gain political clout. Hosting such an event would involve providing food and entertainment for a vast number of people, likely running into thousands or even tens of thousands.

Cost of the Banquet

Estimating the exact cost of such a banquet in Roman times is challenging due to the differences in currency value and purchasing power. However, considering the scale of feeding and entertaining an entire city, the expenses would have been astronomical.

Purpose and Motivation

Crassus's primary motivation for such an extravagant gesture would be political gain. In the highly competitive environment of Roman politics, gaining the favor of the populace was crucial for any ambitious politician. By hosting a grand banquet, Crassus aimed to:

1. Gain Popularity: Acts of generosity endeared politicians to the public. Feeding the masses would have significantly boosted Crassus's popularity among the common people.

2. Political Leverage: With increased popularity came political leverage. Crassus could use the goodwill generated by the banquet to garner support for his political campaigns and initiatives.

3. Counterbalance Rivals: Crassus's wealth allowed him to compete with other powerful figures like Pompey and Julius Caesar. Displaying his financial prowess through public generosity helped him maintain his status and influence within the Triumvirate and the broader political arena.

I believe his motivation was simple. Because Pompey and Julius Caesar had multiple large scale military wins under their belt - Crassus needed a way to be on the same playing field with them. Without military accolades he dug deep into his pockets to buy his way to popularity.

Formation of the Triumvirate

I will likely write an entire piece on the Triumvirate as it’s impact is exceptionally large in Rome’s history. But for now I will give some broad strokes of what it was and Crassus’ involvement. It’s impossible to ignore it in the life of Marcus Crassus.

The political landscape of the late Roman Republic was marked by intense rivalries and power struggles among its leading figures. Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar each had their own ambitions and challenges:

• Julius Caesar sought military command and political influence but faced opposition from the Senate.

• Pompey desired land for his veterans and recognition for his military achievements in the East.

• Crassus was immensely wealthy and influential but lacked the military glory and widespread popularity of Pompey and Caesar.

Recognizing their mutual interests, the three men formed a secret alliance to support each other's goals and dominate Roman politics. Crassus's wealth was instrumental in financing the political activities of the Triumvirate, including Caesar's campaigns.

Political Maneuvering

Crassus's involvement in the Triumvirate was marked by strategic political maneuvering:

1. Support for Caesar: Crassus provided significant financial backing for Caesar, enabling him to secure the consulship in 59 BC. Caesar, in turn, used his position to pass laws that benefited both Crassus and Pompey, including land reforms and debt relief measures.

2. Public Land Reforms: One of the early successes of the Triumvirate was the passage of the Lex Julia agraria, which allocated public land to Pompey's veterans and helped satisfy his supporters.

3. Debt Relief: Crassus pushed for debt relief measures, which were popular among the plebeians and further strengthened the Triumvirate's support base.

Military Career

Crassus's military career is notably marked by his role in suppressing the slave revolt led by Spartacus between 73-71 BC. Appointed as commander to quash the rebellion, Crassus displayed both strategic acumen and ruthless efficiency. His decisive victory at the Battle of the Siler River and the subsequent crucifixion of 6,000 captured slaves along the Appian Way solidified his reputation as a formidable military leader.

There is some context to this military campaign that is important. As Spartacus (a greek slave and gladiator) started winning more battles and amassing more followers, Rome knew it needed to put an end to it.

However, for some of the more prominent military figures at the time - this wasn’t a battle that brought a lot of status. It might be hard for us to understand today but winning a war against slaves and local citizens was often viewed as lose-lose. They should be easy to defeat, and you aren’t gaining any land, riches, or status by beating them.

But let’s move on…

Crassus's ambition for military glory led him to seek command against Rome's eastern adversary, the Parthian Empire. In 53 BC, he embarked on the ill-fated Parthian campaign. Despite his wealth and political influence, his lack of military experience in large-scale eastern campaigns proved disastrous. At the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus suffered a crushing defeat, and he was killed in the aftermath, marking a tragic end to his quest for glory.

There is a lot more that we could cover on this specific military campaign. At this point in Marcus Crassus life he was on in age and looking to claim a BIG military victory to keep up with the success Pompey and Caeser were having outside of Rome’s borders.

He took on a foe that many other Roman generals had fallen to and was not well equipped or listening to advisors who could have helped him win the war.

What Can We Learn From The Life Of Marcus Crassus?

Crassus's influence on the Roman Republic was profound, though his legacy is complex. He epitomized the use of wealth for political power, demonstrating how financial resources could sway political outcomes. His involvement in the First Triumvirate set a precedent for future power-sharing arrangements and highlighted the vulnerabilities in the Roman political system.

Crassus's life offers several lessons for us today. His relentless pursuit of wealth and power underscores the importance of balancing ambition with wisdom. Crassus's downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of wealth and the dangers of overreaching in pursuit of glory. Furthermore, his ability to recover from early setbacks illustrates the value of resilience and strategic thinking in overcoming adversity.

As Plutarch notes in his Parallel Lives, “Crassus, who had made his way from the obscurity of a house in ruins and in disgrace to the highest repute and power among the Romans, learned too late that he was ill-fitted to lead an army against the Parthians.”