Rampaging through Rome committing murder, adultery and acts of debauchery, his reign came to an abrupt end when he was brutally assassinated after only four years. Tiberius acted first and accused her and Caligulas two older brothers of treason. He even turned murder into a sport, attacking people at random, prompting abject fear into everyone around him. Most people know him from the infamous 1979 explicit film. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Accounts of Caligulas reign by ancient historians are so biased against him that the truth is almost impossible to disentangle. She went out on campaigns with his father, the beloved general Germanicus, and served as his advisor. Unsurprisingly, insulting the most powerful person on earth had dark consequences. Summoned to live with Tiberius in Capri as a teenager, Caligula became a pampered prisoner to his great uncle and adoptive grandfather, although he secretly despised him. According to Ancient Origins, Caligulas illness has been greatly debated. What Roman Emperor Loved His Horse? - Great American Adventures Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. But he gives a straight up and down handshake to others mostly female leaders such as Theresa May and Angela Merkel. Unfortunately he died before he could make this dream a reality. Introduction. Oddly enough, the people of ancient Rome were actually angry when Caligula was murdered. As such, the heir to the throne rested on Augustus teenaged grandsons, both of whom would die before Augustus himself. Some historians, like Stephen Dando-Collins, assert that this is just legend. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. He soon became one of the most hated people in the entire empire. Caligula is most known for his cruelty and madness which he exhibited through the harsh taxes he levied on his citizens, the execution of senators whom he deemed untrustworthy, and other. One theory suggests epilepsy as the main cause of his headaches and that he was perhaps deathly afraid of impending seizures. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Caligulas first years in office were a wild ride, but nearly everything he did had one thing in common: they were expensive. Stories surrounding the life of Emperor Caligula, Romes third Emperor (r. 37 AD 41 AD), have reached legendary proportions, making it hard to separate fact from fiction. Thus, Cassius Dio notes, Caligula learned by actual experience that he was not a god.. The Roman Senate Tried To Have Him Removed From History, Emperor Caligula: 16 Facts About the Cruel Roman Emperor, Marble portrait bust of the emperor Gaius, known as Caligula. 50. When the emperor died in 37, Caligulas Praetorian ally Marco arranged for Caligula to be proclaimed the sole emperor. Luckily for him, a sympathetic soldier found him, and a faction of the Praetorian Guard quickly took him out of the city to safety. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Caligula had a malevolent sense of humor. The first Roman emperor named his stepson Tiberius as his heir, but with one very specific condition. Updated: August 31, 2018 | Original: October 9, 2012. Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. Six or seven months into his reign, however, everything changed. He lavished his fine steed with attention, giving him his own house with a marble stall and an ivory manger, and even openly expressed his plans to declare his horse a Roman consulate. Claudius crouches behind a curtain as Caligula lies assassinated before him. He dissolved pearls in vinegar for sustenance, gave his horse a jewel-encrusted collar, and declared war on the ocean the legends are endless. Caligula allegedly carried two notebooks with him wherever he went. Claudius completed the Roman annexation of Britain. The Roman historian Philo described those first few months as blissful, but the bliss ended almost as quickly as it started. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. 12. Little boot Caligula and his sisters, however, were spared violent retribution as they did not appear to be immediate threats. The Story Of Emperor Caligula, Ancient Rome's Most Infamous Leader The Roman emperor Caligula Incitatus. Caligula appeared unexpectedly on the Upper Rhine in October 39 and suppressed an incipient revolt, executing Drusillas widower M. Aemilius Lepidus and Gnaeus Lentulus Gaetulicus, commander of the Upper Rhine armies. Julius Caesar was his great-great-grandfather, Augustus was his grandfather, and his father Germanicus was one of Romes most effective and popular generals. He was succeeded as emperor by his uncle Claudius. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Ancient Origins - The Madness of Caligula: Romes Cruelest Emperor. He often bragged that he once carried a dagger into Emperor Tiberiuss bedroom with the intention of killing him, avenging his mother and brothers. Both Gaius great-grandfather Augustus and father Germanicus were largely heralded and respected in their times, but his legacy would be a sadistic one. He especially didnt want any reminders of his resemblance to a goat. He particularly enjoyed silks and ornately decorated items, but he also had some unusual tastes. A year later, Caligula would order both Marco and Gemellus put to death. We want our readers to trust us. The emperor sent him to live with his great-grandmother Livia. Some say she and her brother engaged in incest, though author and historian Stephen Dando-Collins is dubious. May 1, 2020 By Rosie Lesso, MA Contemporary Art Theory, BA Fine Art But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! He galloped back and forth across the bridge on his horse for two days straight, wearing a dazzling golden cape. DeAgostini/Getty ImagesCaligula lies dead in the foreground after having already been executed, while his wife and daughter are murdered beside him. In one famous incident, Caligula arranged for hundreds of merchant ships to form a 3-mile long floating bridge across the Bay of Baiae. Lazzaro Baldi (1624-1703). Criminals and slaves were often sacrificed to vicious beasts for entertainmentbut apparently that wasnt enough for someone as bloodthirsty as Caligula. According to Suetonius, Caligula managed to blow 2.7 billion sesterces in just the first year of his reign. Augustus deeply admired Caligulas father, Germanicus, and made Tiberius promise to make the great general his heir. Tiberius fell ill in March of 37 A.D. and died a mere month later. One of the first things Caligula did once he became emperor was ban those male prostitutes from Rome., Finally, Dando-Collins was quick to dispel the myth of incest. He even sent an official officer of the Roman Army there to examine the sitebut perhaps his reach exceeded his grasp. Revenge against the traitors who killed him was called for which Caligulas successor, his uncle Claudius, heartily provided. Emperor Tiberius is said to have plotted the murder of Caligula's father and he also eliminated most of Caligula's family. All Rights Reserved. Readers might be familiar with the 1979 arthouse film Caligula, but the truth here is truly stranger than fiction. Caligula was Rome's most tyrannical emperor. Caligula insisted that every Roman take an official oath of allegiance, not just to himself, but also to his sisters (remember some of the rumors about ol Little Boots and his sisters?). Caligula effected the transfer of the last legion that had been under a senatorial proconsul (in Africa) to an imperial legate, thus completing the emperors monopoly of army command. Gaius was a loyal little soldier, then, and his eternal nickname Caligula was born while on these campaigns as hed wear a military uniform replete with little boots, and subsequently became a sort of mascot to the troops. What is Caligula most known for? He Banned Anyone From Talking About Goats Near Him, 9. He introduced new taxes, and doctored legal documents so that he could lay claim to assets that were left to Tiberius. If you think it seems strange that Tiberius would let Caligula live after killing almost his entire family, youre not the only one. In 2008, archaeologists managed to find the actual corridor in Caligulas palace where the killing took place. Who was worse Nero or Caligula? Caligula | Biography & Facts | Britannica Before he took the throne, the astrologer Thrasyllus made a prediction that Caligula had no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Gulf of Baiae. Caligula set out to prove the man a fooland he went to desperate lengths to do so. Tiberius agreed, and Augustus diedcompletely unaware that his best-laid plans were about to go down in flames. And who is the person Mr. Trump most often yields the upper hand to? Some historians, like Stephen Dando-Collins, assert that this is just legend. . Immediately following his death, the Roman senate set about destroying Caligulas statues in the hope that he could be forgotten from history. Such a thing would have been extremely taboo at the timebut Caligula figured himself a god anyway, so I doubt that would have stopped him. He ushered in a bountiful era of public events that ranged from chariot races and boxing matches to plays and gladiatorial fights. What is Caligula most known for? - Studybuff Caligula had become more paranoid. What is Caligula most famous for? 7. Well, as it turns out, no one was safe from the Caligulas wild mood swings. In addition, Caligula maintained sexual relations with her sister's husband Marcus Lepidus and the actor pantomina Mnester. Thanks for your time! He raised taxes to pay for his lavish lifestyle. Gaius Caesar Germanicus, better known as Caligula, was 24 years old when he became the third Roman emperor in 37 A.D. She holds an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Fine Art from Edinburgh College of Art. Regardless of whether Caligula actually hosted orgies or made parents watch as their children were killed, Dando-Collins concludes that he was nonetheless a dangerous man to know. Cruel and tyrannical Emperor Caligula ruled Ancient Rome through fear and terror. The mad emperor didnt realize it, but before long, Emperor Claudius would be dancing on his grave. So when Caligula took the throne, the Romans rejoiced. His wives were Junia Claudilla, Livia Orestilla, Lollia Paulina and Milonia Caesonia. He was sent to live with his great-grandmother Livia, who would soon die, leaving Caligula to the care of his grandmother Antonia. He freed those his predecessor had unjustly imprisoned and eliminated a universally unpopular tax. After killing Caligula, his assassins tracked down his wife and their young daughter, determined to eliminate any trace of the emperors bloodline. Which Roman emperor had a talking horse? No traces of the stunt have ever materialized, so most historians dismiss it as myth. Was Ancient Roman Emperor Caligula Actually The Insane, Sadistic Pervert Everyone Thinks? Based on historical reports, Caligula knew how to work a crowd. Tiberius will named Caligula co-heir with his younger cousin Tiberius Gemellus, but the Senate rejected these provisions and gave complete imperial power to Caligula, who instead made Gemellus, Even before he was Emperor, Caligula had an innate viciousness. One theory is that he wanted to prove to the Egyptian leaders that Rome was capable of matching any luxury craft that they built. Drusilla, Caligulas sister, is seated to the right of Felix, who is center. Others have focused on Caligulas impatience and irritability, as well as a recorded penchant of his for staring into the distance. Caligula - World History Encyclopedia He loved watching tortures and executions; and, disguised in wig and robe, abandoned himself nightly to the pleasures of feasting and scandalous living.. He also rebuilt the walls at the temples of Syracuse and built a city in the Alps. Strangely enough, in order to drain Lake Nemi and uncover Caligulas ancient barges, engineers reactivated a centuries-old Roman irrigation channel that had once been used to connect the lake to nearby farmland. Through all of this chaos, Caligula was still just a young child, so Tiberius spared him. The Roman Senate strongly concurred with that notion. Suetonius claimed that Caligula himself ended Tiberiuss life and ensured his rise to emperor. As a joke, Dando-Collins was sure to add. According to historians, around 39 AD, he removed and replaced all of the Consuls without asking the Senates approval. When archaeologists finally uncovered the wreck in 1932, they were shocked at just how advanced the ship was. In 41 A.D., he was attacked by a cabal of. As the water level dropped, the outlines of the ships that had sat on the bottom for centuries finally revealed themselves. He also apparently suffered from faintness throughout his lifeperiods where he was incapable of almost any effort. Caligula forced Macro, whom he owed so much, to commit suicide. At first, Caligulas reign was well-received. The Egyptian Queen apparently melted a pearl earring in vinegar and drank it. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Rome didnt let Caligulas cruel and disturbing behavior go unnoticed. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. When Caligula recovered, he discovered Macros plansand condemned his one-time ally to a horrifying fate. But this was Ancient Rome, and powerful people didnt usually drop dead without a reason; rumors spread like wildfire that Tiberius had been behind Germanicuss end. Roman Emperor Caligula's massive party ships were not burned by the This amused the other soldiers, who mockingly nicknamed him Caligula, meaning little boot.. One was the Dagger, and the other the Sword. They contained the names of people whom he wanted to prosecute, imprison, or execute. Sejanus manipulated the emperor and virtually ran the empire from his subordinate position. Corrections? At Tiberius funeral, he delivered a passionate and weepy speech in the deceased emperors honor and gave him an extravagant burial. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Naturally, soiling the Roman Empires corridors of power with such madness wasnt well-received by virtually anyone. Many historians, both ancient and modern, have tried to explain what made Caligula so mad. Remembered as a cruel and erratic tyrant, his deranged tendencies threw Rome into chaosand eventually caused his violent end. Whatever the cause, historian and author Stephen Dando-Collins found through his own research that Caligulas illness caused an indisputable change in his temperament. And Tacitus, during a lengthy diatribe in which he accuses Caligulas sister Agrippinawife of the Emperor Claudiusof incest with her son, never implicates her brother. The Roman populace had by now grown weary of this mad and unpredictable tyrant, and several conspiracies were formed against him. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. Hey, Ive got a ton of junk around thats never been hit by lightning, I wonder if hed be interested in any of it. Whether or not Caligula truly did engage in incest, however, is debated. It featured technology that most researchers figured the Romans wouldnt develop until centuries later. Caligula. For his part, Dando-Collins asserts that Caligula could have been insane, but because he was driven so by a mental disorder. But Suetonius wrote The Lives of the Caesars in 121 A.D., 80 years after Caligula was assassinated at age 28 by members of the Praetorian Guard. Drusilla died in a pandemic, and as far we know wasnt pregnant at the time. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place, the man took a moment to think of the right answerwhich was evidently not the right move. It was Suetonius who first published claims that Caligula committed incest with his three sisters. He got the name "Caligula" as a nickname meaning "little boots," derived from the miniature uniform he wore as a child while on a campaign with his father, Germanicus. Emperor Caligula Wasnt His Birth Name, 2. So, after years of cold-blooded killings and extravagant spending, what did Caligula do that finally led to his downfall? Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in 12 AD, was the Emperor of Rome between 37 and 41 AD. Despite his noted cruelty, Caligula did manage to complete some crucial building projects that his predecessor Tiberius had ignored. During his childhood, his family lived at his fathers posting on the Rhine, where the generals troops gave the future emperor his nickname Caligula, meaning little boot, in reference to the miniature uniform in which his parents dressed him. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31, 12 - January 24, 41 C.E. Discover why the name of Caligula is notorious throughout the world. Caligula even planned to make the horse a consul as an expression of his total power, but died before he had the opportunity. Cruel and tyrannical Emperor Caligula ruled Ancient Rome through fear and terror. It wasn't just an upgraded stable, either. In 40 AD, he began making plans to permanently move to Alexandria, taking the capital with him. into a demonstration of cruelty and power. The great-great grandson of Julius Caesar certainly left his mark by his possible madness and definitely horrific acts. Even in those days Caligula could not control his natural brutality, Suetonius wrote. What was Caligula illness? When asked to explain the reason for his mirth, he replied, Ive just thought that Ive only to give the word and youll all have your throats cut. Hilarious, right?! Its said Caligula forced the parents of those he executed to watch their children die, that he ordered the heads of various statues removed and replaced with his own, and that he seemed to have more affection for his horse, Incitatus, than for even his wife or daughter. 8 Things You May Not Know About Emperor Claudius Caligula | 10 Interesting Facts On The Infamous Roman Emperor Cruel and tyrannicalEmperor Caligula ruled Ancient Rome through fear and terror. He often bragged that he once carried a dagger into Emperor Tiberiuss bedroom with the intention of killing him, avenging his mother and brothers. Rachel Seigel is an avid reader and book enthusiast with over 15 years of experience writing. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Who Made His Horse A Roman Consul? - Great American Adventures He was also said to speak to Jupiter directly, sometimes threatening him outright, and claimed that the spirit of the ocean spoke to him when he couldnt sleep. To further the epilepsy diagnosis, multiple sources confirmed that Caligula could not swim, despite the fact that swimming lessons would absolutely have been a part of his education. How did Caligula become emperor? Persichini. The reign of Augustus, the first emperor, was nearing its end when Caligula was born. Which Roman Emperor Slept With A Horse? - Great American Adventures Because Caligula was so young, he was sent to live with Tiberius mother, Livia Drusilla. They accuse Agrippina, the Younger, sister to the Emperor Caligula, of employing Locusta to murder her husband, the Emperor Claudius, . Each day, he had the statue dressed in whatever he was wearing, and Romes wealthiest citizens would make offerings to the emperor there. After his accession, Caligula squandered the vast sums Tiberius had accumulated in the state treasury, executed rivals and supporters alike, made pretensions to divinity, and erected statues of himself. According to contemporary accounts, Caligula, at least when he was young, was a gifted actor, and he managed to hide all of his dark feelings. Rumour has it he even had statues beheaded, replacing their heads with his own. Born Gaius Caesar, he became known as Caligula (Little Boot), a childhood nickname bestowed on him by the soldiers of his father, Germanicus Caesar, nephew and adoptive son of Tiberius. If a Roman wanted to honor someone on meeting them, or ingratiate themselves with them, they gave the other person the upper hand in the handshake deliberately offering their right hand palm up, so that the other person had the dominant position, palm down, Dando-Collins wrote. They believe he suffered from hyperthyroidism, which also commonly leads to headaches. Caligula came from a prominent line of Roman leaders. He executed his cousin and adopted son, Tiberius Gemellus. New York Public LibraryA depiction of Caligulas mother, Agrippina, who was imprisoned and starved to death for accusing the reigning emperor Tiberius of murdering her husband, Germanicus. Legend has it that Caligula loved his horse Incitatus so much he planned on anointing it to high office. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. To this day, the highly controversial movie remains banned in some countries. He laughed as he made everyone around them miserablebut he would eventually pay the ultimate price for it. Caligulas father, Germanicus, was the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius. Rampaging through Rome committing murder, adultery and acts of debauchery, his reign came to an abrupt end when he was brutally assassinated after only four years. To their credit, his rule had been a pretty good example of why giving one man absolute power might not be the best idea. We can thank the Roman historian Suetonius for the eroticism of the 1979 movie. Caligula spent a fortune having two massive barges built to be used on the volcanic Lake Nemi, about nineteen miles south of Rome. After learning about Emperor Caligula, read about Hypatia of Alexandria, an ancient Greek intellectual killed for her beliefs. As befitting a gilded emperor, Caligula absolutely loved gold. Young Gaius accompanied his father on campaigns in north of Germania. Caligula didnt just think of himself as a godhe resented the actual gods for being worshipped alongside him! It was an open secret throughout Rome that she intended to be the mother of emperorsbut she crossed the wrong man, and she would never live to see her dream come true. When asked whether Richard Nixon or Dick Cheney would be apter leaders, the author disagreed and provided some context regarding the two figures. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Dick Cheney can be compared to Sejanus, head of the Praetorian Guard under Caligulas predecessor Tiberius. He may have fooled around with his favorite sister Drusilla as a teenager, but even that is debatable., Caligula was far from a fair ruler, Dondo-Collins maintained. Desperate to take home a victory, he waged an imaginary war with his army on the mythological sea-god Neptune, ordering them to whip the waves, and to plunder the sea for shells as the spoils of war.