Four generals sent against him were defeated; and for two years he ravaged Italy at will, and even threatened Rome.
But intestine division showed itself in his ranks; his lieutenants grew jealous of him, and his strength began to wane.
In 71 the command of the war was given to CRASSUS, who finished it in six months.

Spartacus fell, fighting bravely, near Brundisium.

Pompey, returning from the Sertorian war in Spain, met five thousand of those who had escaped from the array of Spartacus.

These he slew to a man.
Crassus pointed the moral of his victory by hanging, along the road from Rome to Capua, six thousand captives whom he had taken.
Mithradates meanwhile, taking advantage of the troubles at Rome, was again in arms, and in 74 LUCIUS LICINIUS LUCULLUS was sent against him.
Lucullus, of plebeian birth, first distinguished himself in the Social War, where he gained the favor of Sulla, and accompanied him, as Quaestor, in his campaign against Mithradates in 88.

With Cotta he was chosen to the consulship in 74.