M. LICINIUS, the triumvir, surnamed the Rich on account of his opulence, which he acquired at first by educating slaves and selling them at a high price. The cruelties of Cinna obliged him to retire to Spain; but after Cinna's death he passed into Africa, and thence to Italy, where he ingratiated himself with Sylla. Having been sent against Spartacus, he gained a decisive victory in which 12,000 of the rebels were killed, and was honoured with an ovation at his return. Soon afterwards he was made consul with Pompey B.C. 72, and in this high office he displayed his opulence by entertaining the populace at 10,000 tables. He was afterwards censor, and with Pompey and Caesar formed the first triumvirate. As his love of riches was greater than his love of glory, Crassus never imitated the ambitious conduct of his colleagues, but was satisfied with the province of Syria, which seemed to promise an inexhaustible source of wealth. In hopes of enlarging his possessions he set off from Rome, although the omens proved unfavourable, and everything seemed to prognosticate his ruin. Having crossed the Euphrates he hastened to make himself master of Parthis; but being betrayed in his march by the delay of Artavasdes, king of Armenia, and the perfidy of Ariamnes, he was defeated by Surena, the Parthian general, with the loss of 20,000 men. The darkness of the night favoured the escape of the rest; but Crassus, trusting to the clemency or avarice of the enemy, was taken prisoner. He was soon after put to death by having molten gold poured down his throat. His head was then cut off and sent to Orodes. See Roman History, and Parthia.

Lucius Licinius (B.C. 140–91), a celebrated Roman orator, of whose history we know little previous to his prosecution of Carbo (B.C. 131). He was consul B.C. 95, and after the expiration of his magistracy was proconsul in Gaul. Crassus is styled by Cicero eloquentium juris peritissimus.