Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus

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Further information: Third Servile War

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus was one of two Consuls of the Roman Republic in 72 BCE along with Lucius Gellius Publicola. He is noted for being one of the consular generals who lead Roman legions against the slave armies of Spartacus in the Third Servile War.

Lentulus' legions barred Spartacus's forces from moving north, waiting for the armies of Lucius Gellius Publicola to close from the south, hoping to catch the rebels between the two armies. Spartacus' slave army destroyed Lentulus' legions in Appenines Mounts (now near Pistoia) in a walley named Lentula (*), and then turned and dispatched the oncoming legions of Gellius'.

Shortly afterward, Gellius and Lentulus were withdrawn as commanders, by the Roman senate, and command of the war given to Marcus Licinius Crassus.

(*)Laura Battistini, "Lentula....", 2000; http://it.geocities.com/lentula_storia


Preceded by
Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus
Consul of the Roman Republic
with Lucius Gellius Publicola
72 BCE
Succeeded by
Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura and Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes