Final answer:
Pirates demanded twenty talents to ransom Julius Caesar, but he insisted on paying fifty. After his release, Caesar captured and crucified these pirates.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Julius Caesar was captured by pirates around 75 BCE, the pirates initially demanded a ransom of twenty talents for his release. However, Caesar laughed at this amount, suggesting that it was too low for someone of his stature, and instead volunteered to pay fifty talents. His followers were sent to gather the money, which was eventually paid, and upon his release, Caesar managed to raise a naval force to pursue and capture the same pirates, confiscating their assets and ultimately crucifying them as punishment.