Page 22 - History of War - Issue 05-14

JULIUS CAESAR

When Sulla’s warriors stormed
Rome and ousted Marius from
power (pictured), Caesar was
forced to flee the city

Mary Evans

lived civil war that Caesar’s uncle had response was to tell them they should Marius in exile after
no prospect of winning. His army of ask for at least 50. It was a daring being removed from
gladiators was swiftly crushed by Sulla’s gamble that not only kept him alive, but power by Sulla’s men
legions and Marius fled, leaving the also allowed his dominating personality
now 16-year-old Caesar a target for the to gain some control over the situation.
regime. So the young man fled, too, for Caesar spent 38 days in captivity while
a life in the army. the ransom was raised and, during that
Fascinated with the military since time, became the hostage from hell.
childhood, and seizing the opportunity Rather than cower before his captors, he
to make a name for himself, Caesar would boss them about. He also made
soon proved himself in battle. He was them a haunting promise. They would
awarded the Civic Crown – Rome’s get their silver, he assured them, and he
second-highest decoration – for valour would get his freedom. But then he would
while fighting in Greece. The honour come back for them. He would hunt them
coincided with Sulla’s death in 78BC, and down and he would crucify them. The
Caesar decided to return to Rome. Before pirates apparently laughed at the cheek of
that time came, however, he became this 22-year-old, but Caesar wasn’t joking.
entangled in an adventure that would help
make him famous, not least because it
demonstrated all the traits – good and w DIAMOND
bad – that would lead him to greatness. CAESAR
IN A TRADITIONAL
Kidnapped by pirates PACK OF
At that time, the Mediterranean was PLAYING CARDS,
blighted by piracy and, on his way back THE KING OF
DIAMONDS IS
across the Aegean Sea, Sicilian pirates OTHERWISE
attacked Caesar’s ship. Recognising that KNOWN AS
they’d taken a prisoner of high status, CAESAR –
his captors demanded a ransom of 20 BELIEVED TO BE
talents of silver for him – the modern NAMED AFTER
equivalent of US $600,000. Caesar’s JULIUS CAESAR.

They would get their silver,
They would g et their silver ,
Caesar assured them,
and he would get his

freedom. But then he would
But then he would
hunt them down and skilled horseman
Caesar was a
as well as
he would crucify them military tactician
a brilliant
22 22 HISTORY WAR

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