Spartacus, a Thracian by birth, served in the Roman army, perhaps deserted, led bandit raids, and was caught and sold as a slave.
With about 70 fellow gladiators he escaped a gladiatorial training school at Capua in 73 and took refuge on Mount Vesuvius, where other runaway slaves joined the band. After defeating two Roman forces in succession, the rebels overran most of southern Italy. Ultimately their numbers grew to at least 90,000. Spartacus defeated the two consuls for the year 72.
Hemmed in by Crassus’s eight legions, Spartacus’s army divided. The Gauls and Germans were defeated first, and Spartacus himself ultimately fell fighting in pitched battle. Pompey’s army intercepted and killed many slaves who were escaping northward, and 6,000 prisoners were crucified by Crassus along the Appian Way.
The movie based on Howard Fast's novel, has it differently--Spartacus is one of the men crucified.