Caligula

12-41 AD (ruled 37-41 AD)

Origin/Childhood

• Was the son of Germanicus

• Brothers Nero and Darius. Sisters Agrippa the Younger, Julia Drusilla, Julia Livilla

• Germanicus was the nephew of the Emperor Tiberius but would be adopted as Tiberius’s son.

• Germanicus would die in 19 AD

• His wife would take the six children (including Caligula) to Rome

• She would get into a serious dispute with Tiberius (everyone was killed or exiled)

• Caligula was the only male survivor

Origin/Childhood

• In 31 AD Caligula left to live with Tiberius on the island of Capri

• Tiberius, still the emperor, dies in 37 AD

• Caligula gains the throne and begins his rule in 37 AD

• Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula)

• Gained name Caligula (Little soldier’s boot)

Young Life• Caligula Accompanied his father on

campaigns in Germania as a child

• After fathers death lived briefly with his grandmother

• Was a great actor and was able to pretend to like Tiberius (even though he practically killed all of his family)

• Actually planned on killing him but Tiberius soon died anyway

• While with Tiberius he was married to Junia Claudilla but she died during childbirth one year after marriage. (rough life)

Caligula (Gaius) The New Emperor

• Believed that an assistant to Caligula, Marco, killed Tiberius

• Tiberius’s Grandson was supposed to joint rule with Caligula

• Claimed this was due to insanity• Entered Rome March 28 to massive crowds as the

new Emperor• Loved from “all over the world” (He wasn’t

Tiberius)• 160,000 animals sacrificed and everything was

content for first 6 months• Was generous: Military bonuses, recalled exiles,

and much more

Peace to Tyranny • Just six months Caligula became

extremely ill without a given reason.

• Being a paranoid ruler he began making ill advised decisions

• Exiled or killed all of those close to him and also anyone he viewed as enemies. (also killed his adopted son)

• Had his brother and father in law killed as well

• Got rid of elections and became a tyrannical figure

Early Problems

•Around 39 AD a financial crisis occurs•Payments of generosity add up•Uses extreme measures to regain money•A large famine occurs do to his actions•Already becoming a bad ruler

Senate vs. Caligula

• 39 AD tension between him and senate• Senate was used to having no ruler•Got rid of many senators for “untrustworthiness”•Many senators were killed and a new consul was created•Was extremely paranoid when dealing with conspiracies

Lands Conquered• Was able to

expand the Roman Empire far into Western Europe, and made a major attempt to conquer Britannia before his death in 40 AD

• Conquered Mauretania after executing the King

• Britannia was later recognized

Caligula “The God”

• Introduced religion into his political role•Had art made of him dressed as other gods•Called himself Jupiter in some documents and wanted to be addressed as a god•“Neos Helios” New sun•Made all worship him, even senators, as a god

Eastern Rule

•Had to deal with riots and plots against him in the East•Greek Culture, Jewish ideas, and Roman were all problems for him•Executed Flaccus from Egypt after he caused riots over actions of Caligula

Caligula the Psychopath

• By the time his generosity ended people understood that he was a bit insane

• Slept with too many women and spent to much

• Crowd mass murder in coliseum

• Caused mass famine

• Wanted statue in temple of Jerusalem

• Almost made his Horse Consul and actually made him a priest

• Was supposedly perverted in many ways

• Basically… Insane

Assassination• Made senate angry and actually tried to rid of the

senate

• Large group plotted (supposedly 3 men)

• Cassius Chaerea was first to stab him (Caesar Spoiler)

• Cassius’s killed both Gaius Julius Caesar’s

• Took place in underground Corridor (stabbed 30 times)

• A Germanic Guard who was late saving him went on violent attacks against murderers (Similar to Marc Antony)

• Also killed his wife and daughter

• Senate tried to restore republic but military remained loyal

Aftermath

• His remains would be burned and taken by his sisters and buried in the Mausoleum of Augustus

• His remains were found and spread everywhere in 410 AD during sack of Rome

• Claudius became emperor after the Germanic guard pushed for his leadership