In 75 B.C. Julius Caesar was captured by pirates. But his wily personality, sharp tongue, and strong confidence helped to see him through the ordeal.
Ancient pirates were quite aggressive and audacious when it came to taking what they wanted, when they wanted. They cared not who their victims were; the richer the better, of course. But when they crossed paths with Julius Caesar, they got a little more than they bargained for.
In 75 B.C., Caesar was on the run from Sulla's army, and was sailing near the island of Pharmacusa. A pirate ship quickly gained ground upon Caesar and his crew, and they were soon overtaken. Caesar, of course, was not pleased with this development, and proved quite brazen and arrogant in the face of these otherwise terrifying thieves.
Rather than killing the noble Roman, the pirates, not in the least bit intimidated by him, put up with his behavior and decided to set a ransom for his release. The pirates sent a letter to the young statesman's father, demanding 20 talents of gold in exchange for his son. Caesar was outraged at such a paltry ransom demand, and insisted that it be raised to 50 talents, charging that his life was worth way more than the typical pirate acquisition.
The pirates held Caesar for more than a month, in which time he occupied himself by writing poetry and reading it to them. His powerful personality began to get the better of the pirates, and he would chastise them if they laughed at his writings, he was able to order them to be quiet when he wanted rest, and he threatened that he would have them all killed upon his release.
Caesar was released, and he sought his promised justice. He borrowed ships and ambushed the pirates who had taken him prisoner as they lay sleeping along the beach. Julius Caesar and his crew swiftly executed them all.
