![]() Apparently the pirates hadn’t taken his threats seriously, because they were still there when he arrived. Once he was freed, he made good on that promise: Despite the fact that he was a private citizen, Caesar managed to quickly raise a small fleet which he took back to the island where he had been held captive. He told the pirates that, after his ransom was paid, he would hunt them down and have them crucified. While Caesar was friendly with the pirates, he didn’t appreciate being held captive. The pirates quickly grew to respect and like him and allowed him the freedom to more or less do as he pleased on their island and ships. Caesar also played various games with the pirates and participated in their exercises, generally acting as if he wasn’t a prisoner, but rather, their leader. He would then recite the works to the pirates. He spent most of his time with them composing and reciting poetry and writing speeches. He even went so far as to demand they not talk whenever he decided to sleep. Instead, he treated the pirates as if they were his subordinates. Now nearly alone with the pirates-only two servants and a friend remained with him-Caesar refused to cower. The pirates, of course, agreed, and Caesar sent some of his associates off to gather the silver, a task that took 38 days. They didn't know who they had captured, he said, and demanded that they ask for 50 (1550 kg of silver), because 20 talents was simply not enough. According to Plutarch, when the pirates asked for a ransom of 20 talents of silver (approximately 620 kg of silver, or $600,000 in today's silver values), Caesar laughed at their faces. In 75 BCE, 25-year-old Julius Caesar was sailing the Aegean Sea when he was kidnapped by Cilician pirates. To subscribe to his “Daily Knowledge” newsletter, click here. Daven Hiskey runs the wildly popular interesting fact website Today I Found Out.
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