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⁾