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by jihadjihad 1654 days ago
I didn't know this story so I looked it up [0]. According to Plutarch, it's true: Caesar was captured by pirates in his twenties, and was insulted by their lowball ransom of 20 talents--he thought he was worth at least 50. He told the pirates they should up the ransom and that once it was delivered and he was freed, he'd have them all crucified. They thought it was a pretty good joke. He wasn't joking. Once free, he raised an army and a fleet and went back to the pirate's camp, capturing them and having them thrown in prison. Apparently he showed them mercy by having their throats cut before they were crucified, however.

0: https://www.britannica.com/story/the-time-julius-caesar-was-...
1 comments
oblio 1654 days ago
It's actually an extreme case of privilege. The pirates were probably some very poor commoners who turned to a life of crime, while he was a member of one of the most powerful political families in Ancient Rome.

His upbringing was nothing like that of what were probably children the dirt poor farmers.

He was lucky that no one snapped (I imagine some did but the thought of such a huge amount of money meant that everyone was kept in line) and the rest is just a bold and vengeful ultra rich, ultra privileged person getting their revenge.

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xyzzy123 1654 days ago
"Do you know who I am?" there's no woke reading where Julius Caesar can be rehabiliated for modern sensibilities. It's still unbelievably badass.

I don't think you can retcon modern thinking on it, he was the actual thing and that was beautiful and terrible.

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oblio 1654 days ago
It is very bold, but my point is that commoners were naturally very afraid of nobles. On top of that, in this particular case they knew the financial value of capturing a noble, let alone the fact that this particular noble promised them even more money.

As another commoner you'd probably get gutted like a fish if you'd try the same thing.

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xyzzy123 1654 days ago
It's true but being noble was its own thing with its own particular risks and costs. If you were to choose undeserving nobles across history IMHO J C would be among the worst sells.
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