In 75 BCE, a band of pirates on the Aegean Sea kidnapped a young Roman aristocrat. The 25-year-old hostage refused to behave like a captive, demanded to raise his ransom from 20 to 50 talents of silver and commanded them, making them listen to his speeches and poems. He also joined their exercises and games, but he always threatened pirates as subordinates, sometimes even threatening to have them all crucified. Pirates thought he was an overconfident, spoiled brat, and took this as a joke. Unfortunately for them, they were wrong. After the ransom was paid, the young Roman named Julius Caesar, managed to raise a naval force, despite not being a public or military figure. He found and captured pirates and had them crucified. ¹⁾

Caesar's ancestors claimed to be gods' descendants, Iulus, son of Aeneas Prince of Troy, whose mother was said to be Venus herself. ²⁾

Aeneas was a mythical forefather of Romulus and Remus. ³⁾

He was governor of Asia, and his sister was married to Gaius Marius, a Roman political titan. ⁴⁾

Like his father before him, Aurelia Cotta's father, Lucius Aurelius Cotta, was Consul (the highest position in the Roman Republic). ⁵⁾

Pinarius married Julia Caesaris Major. Lucius Pinarius, their grandson, was a great soldier and provincial governor. Julia Caesaris Minor married Marcus Atius Balbus and had three daughters, one of which, Atia Balba Caesonia, became the mother of Octavian, Rome's first emperor. ⁶⁾

When his father died unexpectedly in 85 BC, the 16-year-old Caesar was compelled to flee. Marius was embroiled in a deadly power battle, which he eventually lost. Caesar joined the army to avoid the new ruler Sulla and his probable retaliation. ⁷⁾

Caesar's family would continue to wield power for decades after his death. He was connected to Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, and Caligula. ⁸⁾

Caesar's military career began with the Siege of Mytilene. The island city of Lesbos was suspected of assisting local pirates. Marcus Minucius Thermus and Lucius Licinius Lucullus led the Romans to victory. ⁹⁾

He was a gallant soldier from the outset, and he was rewarded with the Civic Crown throughout the siege. This was the second highest military honor after the Grass Crown, and the winner was admitted to the Senate. ¹⁰⁾

He was dispatched to seek naval assistance from King Nicomedes IV, but stayed so long at court that rumors of an affair with the king began to circulate. His opponents afterwards insulted him with the moniker “Queen of Bithynia”. ¹¹⁾

When Caesar's enemy Sulla died, he felt secure enough to return to Rome. Sulla was able to leave politics and died on his rural house. The Senate's nomination of Caesar as dictator while Rome was not in danger established a precedent for Caesar's career. ¹²⁾

Caesar went to the courts in order to make money. He was a successful lawyer, and his public speaking was well regarded. ¹³⁾

Caesar is said to have seen an Alexander the Great statue in Spain. He was saddened to discover that he had reached the same age as Alexander when he was lord of the known world. ¹⁴⁾

He was chosen to the top theological office in Rome, Pontifex Maximus (he having been a priest as a youth.¹⁵⁾

Two years later, he was governor of a vast portion of Spain, and his military prowess was on display when he fought two local tribes. ¹⁶⁾