Pirates

For millennia before Johnny Depp and the Black Pearl, pirates had been wreaking havoc on those who travelled by sea. Julius Caesar was captured by pirates and developed a friendship with them. He even told them to demand a larger ransom for him, but he also told them that when he was ransomed he would pay them back for their crime.
Vincent Panella's Cutter's Island: Caesar in Captivity
MORE: Pompey and the Pirates
Elsewhere: Parthenon


Plutarch tells story of the capture of Caesar by Cilician pirates in 75 B.C. The pirates originally asked for a ranson of 20 talents, but Caesar said they could get much more and sent his followers off to raise the 50 Caesar thought he was worth. While awaiting the ransom money Caesar spent 38 days with the pirates. During this time Caesar composed poems and speeches which he read to the pirates expecting praise. He also complained about noise when he wished to sleep. In all, Caesar did not act like a prisoner and even threatened the pirates with hanging once he was free again.
Plutarch - Caesar and the Pirates

In 69 B.C., A. Gabinius, tribune, pushed through a law (Lex Gabinia) creating a position of command to deal with the pirate problem. Pompey was given the position. His three-year position allowed him to raise a very large number of troops and money. With these resources Pompey was able to take care of the pirate problem throughout the Mediterranean within 49 days.
War In The East