In 73 BCE Rome was fighting two wars in the Mediterranean: one in the west at Iberia, and one in the east at Armenia. All soldiers worth their salt were away from the Italian home front, making ideal conditions for the success of a revolt. Rome had dealt with two prior slave insurrections in the past, both of which were heavily subdued, but they had never dealt with a man like Spartacus. Thracian born and bred; Spartacus was a recent deserter of the Roman cavalry. After being caught trying to run off to King Mithridates Pontian war for control of the Mediterranean, Spartacus had been sold to a gladiator school in Capua, called the House of Batiatus. It was there where the third slave revolt was born. Some two hundred slaves bound together to free themselves from the might of Rome and began to ravage the central countryside for strength and justice. The Senate, enraged as they were embarrassed, sent praetor after praetor to quench the rebel fire under Spartacus' command. The slaves were able to increase their army to tens of thousands up and down Italy before their luck began to run out. After two years Spartacus had met his match in the ambitious Praetor Marcus Licinius Crassus. But could both men live to tell the tale of the war of Spartacus?