Marcus Licinius Crassus

Marcus Licinius Crassus
Bust of Crassus in the Louvre Museum
Governor of Roman Syria
In office 54 BC – 53 BC
Preceded by	Aulus Gabinius
Succeeded by	Gaius Cassius Longinus
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 55 BC – 54 BC Serving with Pompey the Great
Preceded by	Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus and Lucius Marcius Philippus
Succeeded by	Appius Claudius Pulcher and Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 70 BC – 69 BC Serving with Pompey
Preceded by	Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura and Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes
Succeeded by	Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus and Quintus Hortensius
Personal details
Born	115 BC Roman Republic
Died	53 BC (aged 62) Carrhae, Parthian Empire
Political party	Optimates
Spouse(s)	Tertulla
Children	Marcus Licinius Crassus, Publius Licinius Crassus

Marcus Licinius Crassus (/ˈkræsəs/; Latin: M·LICINIVS·P·F·P·N·CRASSVS; c. 115 BC – 53 BC) was a Roman general and politician who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Amassing an enormous fortune during his life, Crassus is, exempting Augustus Caesar, considered the wealthiest man in Roman history.

Crassus began his public career as a military commander under Lucius Cornelius Sulla during his civil war. Following Sulla's assumption of the dictatorship, Crassus amassed an enormous fortune through real estate speculation. Crassus rose to political prominence following his victory over the slave revolt led by Spartacus, sharing the Consulship with his rival Pompey the Great.

A political and financial patron of Julius Caesar, Crassus joined Caesar and Pompey in the unofficial political alliance known as the First Triumvirate. Together the three men dominated the Roman political system. The alliance would not last indefinitely due to the ambitions, egos, and jealousies of the three men. While Caesar and Crassus were lifelong allies, Crassus and Pompey disliked each other and Pompey grew increasingly envious of Caesar's spectacular successes in the Gallic Wars. The alliance was re-stabilized at the Lucca Conference in 56 BC, after which Crassus and Pompey again served jointly as Consuls. Following his second Consulship, Crassus was appointed as the Governor of Roman Syria. Crassus used Syria as the launchpad for a military campaign against the Parthian Empire, Rome's long-time Eastern enemy. Crassus' campaign was a disastrous failure, resulting in his defeat and death at the Battle of Carrhae.