Caligula
June 7th 2009 19:55
Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, better known as Caligula, was the third emperor of Rome. His reign lasted a mere four years, from AD37 to AD41.
His name, meaning 'little boots', refers to the custom-made footwear he wore as a child. The nickname was coined by his fathers' soldiers.
It is believed his father, mother and two elder brothers were murdered by Tiberius. If this is so, the question remains as to why he allowed Caligula and his three sisters to live. The truth may well be the parents and siblings of Caligula met their deaths at his own hands; the fact he had two elder brothers would mean he would not have become Emperor if either one had lived.
Reports from this period suggest Caligula was a brutal ruler given to fanciful whims and hedonistic pleasures. Evidently he had an intense desire to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul. He ordered the building of a stable bedecked in marble, complete with an ivory manger. His horse also had a retinue of servants who were commanded to ensure the well-being of the beast.
Other flights of fancy included oratory contests with the losers having to lick clean their wax tablets; having ships tied together to enable him to ride his horse across the Bay of Naples and ordering his army to collect sea shells on the Northern shore of Gaul instead of preparing to invade Britain.
When in a saner frame of mind Caligula turned his attention to the expansion of the Roman Empire. He also sought, in vain, to increase his imperial powers. He survived several attempts to depose him.
He was named Emperor of Rome in AD37. The following year he forced his father-in-law, Gaius Silanus, and Tiberius' grandson Gemellus to commit suicide. Later in the year his favourite sister Drusilla died. He had her deified but her divinity did not last his reign.
During the Winter of AD39 and the Spring of AD40 he marched his army into Gaul. He plundered the country but failed to invade Britain. During the Summer of AD40 he announced his self-deification but was persuaded not to erect a statue of himself in the Temple of Jerusalem.
Caligula met his end in January AD41 when he, his wife and daughter were assassinated by the Praetorian Guard during the Palatine Games in Rome.
His true age has never been truly discovered although all depictions of him are that of a young-ish man. What is known is not flattering. He is shown as being a ruthless person with no respect for anyone. His behaviour was uncontrolled at best and absolutely evil at worst.
Whether Caligula was a callous monster, a raving lunatic or clinically insane is open to debate. In my own opinion, I would think it could well be a mixture of all three. What I cannot understand is the fact he managed to remain as Emperor for all of four years. I understand several attempts were made to depose him, but there is no history which suggests any attempt at assassination until January AD41.
His name, meaning 'little boots', refers to the custom-made footwear he wore as a child. The nickname was coined by his fathers' soldiers.
It is believed his father, mother and two elder brothers were murdered by Tiberius. If this is so, the question remains as to why he allowed Caligula and his three sisters to live. The truth may well be the parents and siblings of Caligula met their deaths at his own hands; the fact he had two elder brothers would mean he would not have become Emperor if either one had lived.
Reports from this period suggest Caligula was a brutal ruler given to fanciful whims and hedonistic pleasures. Evidently he had an intense desire to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul. He ordered the building of a stable bedecked in marble, complete with an ivory manger. His horse also had a retinue of servants who were commanded to ensure the well-being of the beast.
Other flights of fancy included oratory contests with the losers having to lick clean their wax tablets; having ships tied together to enable him to ride his horse across the Bay of Naples and ordering his army to collect sea shells on the Northern shore of Gaul instead of preparing to invade Britain.
When in a saner frame of mind Caligula turned his attention to the expansion of the Roman Empire. He also sought, in vain, to increase his imperial powers. He survived several attempts to depose him.
He was named Emperor of Rome in AD37. The following year he forced his father-in-law, Gaius Silanus, and Tiberius' grandson Gemellus to commit suicide. Later in the year his favourite sister Drusilla died. He had her deified but her divinity did not last his reign.
During the Winter of AD39 and the Spring of AD40 he marched his army into Gaul. He plundered the country but failed to invade Britain. During the Summer of AD40 he announced his self-deification but was persuaded not to erect a statue of himself in the Temple of Jerusalem.
Caligula met his end in January AD41 when he, his wife and daughter were assassinated by the Praetorian Guard during the Palatine Games in Rome.
His true age has never been truly discovered although all depictions of him are that of a young-ish man. What is known is not flattering. He is shown as being a ruthless person with no respect for anyone. His behaviour was uncontrolled at best and absolutely evil at worst.
Whether Caligula was a callous monster, a raving lunatic or clinically insane is open to debate. In my own opinion, I would think it could well be a mixture of all three. What I cannot understand is the fact he managed to remain as Emperor for all of four years. I understand several attempts were made to depose him, but there is no history which suggests any attempt at assassination until January AD41.
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