DYK#2 | DID YOU KNOW | Julius Caesar killed his kidnappers ?
25 Year old Julius Caesar was sailing in the Aegean Sea in 75 BCE when he was kidnapped by Cilician pirates. So the pirates demanaded for a ransom of 20 talents of silver, (that is 620kg of silver or over $600,000 in silver value today) and instead of the young man to be afraid as most of us would, he instead laughed straight to their face and told them to ask for a ransom of 50 talents of silver as 20 talents was too small and would be an embarrassment, the pirate were confused at him, wondering who they had captured.
The pirates agreed, (who wouldn't ? i would lol) so Julius sent almost all his crew mates to go gather the needed silvers, which took them straight 38 days, back at the pirate's ship, Julius was almost alone with the pirates but he had two servants and a friend with him.
Ceaser treated the pirates like they were his subordinates, he even spent a great deal of his time with the pirates writing speeches and composing and reciting poetry, he played many games with them and paticipated in their activities, he literally acted as if he was not their prisoner and the pirates, with no time got to respect and like him and he was granted freedom to do almost as he like in their islands and ships.
But he didin't like the fact that he was held captive despite the freedom and respect, so he made a promise to the pirate that he will come back and crucify them after he pays his ransom. This sounded like a joke to the pirate and they didn't take it serious and eventually he paid his 50 silver talent ransom and was freed, he then quickly raised a small fleet and went back to the island he was held captive and freed, the pirates were still there on the island cos they didn't take the threat from Caesar seriously, he captured them, took back his 50 silver talent and took their possessions also.
He took the pirates to the authorities at the prison at Pergamon he then left and went to Asia to meet with the proconsul of Asia, Marcus Junius, to petition him to give the orders to have the pirates executed but Marcus refused, Caesar then wanted to sell the pirates as slaves and take the spoil, he then travelled back to Pergamon where the pirates were imprisoned and ordered that they should be crucified , he (Caesar) showed them a bit mercy by slicing their throats before they suffer they painful death of execution.
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