Whenthepoliticaltemperturnedagainsthimearlyinhiscareer,JuliusCaesarleftRomeandsailedfortheAegeanislandofRhodestotakeacourseinrhetoric.BeforereachingRhodes,Caesar'sshipwasattackedbypirates,whodemandedanimmenseransomof12000goldpiecesforCaesar'srelease.Envoysweresenttoarrangeforpayment.
Whileheawaitedtheirreturn,Caesaroftenplayfullyremarkedthathewouldcaptureandcrucifyhiskidnapperstoaman.Theyweregreatlyamusedbythis.
Afternearly40days,theransomarrivedandCaesarwasfreed.Hepromptlygatheredafleet,pursuedthepirates,andcapturedandcrucifiedthem─toaman.