Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 23, 2026

Gannicus

Gannicus was a Celtic slave, who together with the Thracian Spartacus, Crixus, Castus and Oenomaus, became one of the leaders of rebel slaves during the Third Servile War. In the winter of 71 BC, Gannicus, along with Castus, broke off from Spartacus, taking a large number of Celts and Germans with them, marking the second detachment of the rebellion. Gannicus and Castus met their end at the Battle of Cantenna in Lucania near Mount Soprano, where Marcus Licinius Crassus, Lucius Pomptinus and Quintus Marcius Rufus entrenched their forces in battle and defeated them.

Last revised
Jul 23, 2026
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Gannicus
Slave Leader
Personal details
Born
Unknown
Died71 BC
Military service
Battles/warsThird Servile War

Gannicus was a Celtic123 slave, who together with the Thracian Spartacus, Crixus, Castus and Oenomaus, became one of the leaders of rebel slaves during the Third Servile War (73–71 BC). In the winter of 71 BC, Gannicus, along with Castus, broke off from Spartacus, taking a large number of Celts and Germans with them, marking the second detachment of the rebellion. Gannicus and Castus met their end at the Battle of Cantenna in Lucania near Mount Soprano (Mount Camalatrum), where Marcus Licinius Crassus, Lucius Pomptinus and Quintus Marcius Rufus entrenched their forces in battle and defeated them.

References

References

  1. Winkler 2008, p. 222
  2. Bury 1994, p. 331
  3. Strauss 2009, p. 213
  4. Starz. "Gannicus". Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2010.

Ancient sources

Secondary literature