this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024
212 points (98.2% liked)

A Comm for Historymemes

1431 readers
395 users here now

A place to share history memes!

Rules:

  1. No sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, assorted bigotry, etc.

  2. No fascism, atrocity denial, etc.

  3. Tag NSFW pics as NSFW.

  4. Follow all Lemmy.world rules.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
PugJesus@lemmy.world
212
Chad Caesar casually giving his kidnappers ransom advice (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago by PugJesus@lemmy.world to c/historymemes@lemmy.world
9 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 30 points 3 months ago (1 children)

First time I have heard he had throats cut first. It's an interesting detail that changes my understanding of him if it's true.

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 42 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Suetonius:

74 Even in avenging wrongs he was by nature most merci­ful, and when he got hold of the pirates who had captured him, he had them crucified, since he had sworn beforehand that he would do so, but ordered that their throats be cut first.

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Julius*.html

Caesar was capable of great callousness, but you don't see him engage in casual or impulsive cruelty or blow his top like some other historical figures. He was in general a very calculating fellow, and very attentive to his reputation. Furthermore, reciprocity was highly valued in the Classical world, and it's likely that Caesar felt obliged to show some form of lenience since the pirates had humored him while he was a captive.