Episode Details

Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Roman history. He built his fortune through slave labor, real estate speculation, and fire brigades that extorted burning homeowners. He bankrolled Caesar, formed the First Triumvirate, and died in the desert at Carrhae chasing the military glory his money could not buy.

This episode traces how wealth bought Crassus political power but not the one thing he wanted: a reputation to rival Pompey and Caesar.

• How he built his fortune through fire, slavery, and proscriptions
• His role in the First Triumvirate with Caesar and Pompey
• The catastrophic invasion of Parthia and the disaster at Carrhae
• The legend of molten gold poured down his throat