Influential friends, however, interceded in his behalf, and the Dictator was finally persuaded to pardon him; but with reluctance, and with the remark that in Caesar was the making of many a Marius.

The youth then left Italy, and joined the army in Asia.
Here Caesar served his apprenticeship as a soldier.

He joined the forces of the Praetor Thermus, who had been sent against the pirates that were making their head-quarters in Lesbos.

The Praetor, finding his troops insufficient to accomplish his work, sent Caesar to Nicomedes, a Roman ally and the King of Bithynia, to obtain additional forces.

He was successful in his mission, and, upon his return to Lesbos, distinguished himself for his bravery in the attack upon Mitylene, and was awarded the oak wreath, a coveted honor, for saving the life of a fellow-soldier.
Caesar is next seen in Cilicia, serving under Servilius, in a campaign against the pirates who were marauding along the coast of that country.
While here he was informed of Sulla's death, and at once left the army and returned home (77).