Born on the 31st of August 12 AD in Antium, modern day Anzio, Italy, Caligula was a member of the Julio Claudian dynasty; the first ruling family of the Roman Empire.His father was a popular Roman General while his mother was the granddaughter of Augustus Caesar. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Maybe he felt like he couldnt live up to his name, or maybe he just hated attention being drawn away from him, but Caligula deeply resented his famous ancestors. Accounts of Caligulas reign by ancient historians are so biased against him that the truth is almost impossible to disentangle. It wasn't just an upgraded stable, either. Known victims: Roman Emperor Claudius Britannicus. In one twisted story, Caligula was supposedly meant to sacrifice a bull to the gods by hitting it over the head with a huge mallet. 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. 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. His recorded symptoms suggest he did in fact suffer from bipolar disorder, Dando-Collins reported. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. 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. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. Most of the myths are just that, myths. Dando-Collins asserted. As Caligulas behavior became more erratic and cruel, critics began to question his actions. Caligula was now a teenager and is rumored to have engaged in ancestral relations with his sister Drusilla while the two lived with their grandmother. But Caligula, 24 years old at the time, had no experience in war, diplomacy, or government. Discover why the name of Caligula is notorious throughout the world. At the age of three he started to accompany his father on military campaigns and the little soldier outfit he was given included miniature boots. Tiberius let Caligula and his sisters come live with him, but thats not to say he put them up in luxury suites. Which emperor was killed by his wife? His reign from 37-41 AD is filled with murder and debauchery, to levels even his infamous nephew Nero could not reach. When archaeologists began digging, they made a surprising discovery. Corrections? Skip to main content Live TV Shows. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Caligula give his horse Incitatus a drink during a banquet. into a demonstration of cruelty and power. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. For one thing, his fellow lawmakers would likely have whisked him out of power for such conduct. What Year Did Caligula Declare War On The Sea? - FAQS Clear Caligula also didnt make his horse a senator, but he did name his favorite chariot racing horse a member of a religious order. Which Roman emperor married a horse? His favourite phrase, which he frequently repeated, was Remember I have the right to do anything to anybody. This included adulterous affairs with the wives of his allies and the torment or murder of high-ranking senators who dared to disagree with him. But in 19 A.D., however, Germanicus fell ill and died. Plinys history of Cleopatra described a decadentand utterly revoltingcocktail. Thanks for your help! Emperor Tiberius is said to have plotted the murder of Caligula's father and he also eliminated most of Caligula's family. The mad emperor didnt realize it, but before long, Emperor Claudius would be dancing on his grave. Caligula in a winged helmet and holding double-headed arrows before a military scene in the background, even though the emperor had no military experience. Caligula lies dead in the foreground after having already been executed, while his wife and daughter are murdered beside him. Growing up, Agrippina the Elder had a close relationship with her grandfather, the Emperor Augustus, who personally oversaw her education. Its believed by Suetonius, a biographer of Caligulas largely believed to have begotten his infamous legacy, that Germanicus was actually poisoned on the orders of Tiberius who feared the latter was a political rival. He also rebuilt the walls at the temples of Syracuse and built a city in the Alps. He marched his troops to the northern shoreline of Gaul as a prelude to the invasion of Britain but then ordered them to collect seashells there, which he called the spoils of the conquered ocean. One of the most pervasive legends about Caligula claims that he once went to war with Neptune, the God of the Sea, after being forced to abandon a military campaign to invade Britain. In 2003, archaeologists from the US and Britain located what they believe to be the site of Caligulas palace. Read on for 42 facts about the man who thought himself a god. Believing He Had Extraordinary Powers, He Declared Himself An Immortal God, 11. Gaius and his three sisters survived. Which Roman Emperor Had A Horse? - Great American Adventures Tiberius, Augustus stepson, had little desire to become emperor. By the time Caligula died, he was so hated that the Senate pushed to have him completely erased from Roman history. He Turned A Military Campaign Into Performance Art, 8. Either way, Tiberius suddenly had no heir. But because history is often written only by the victor, what we glean about Caligulas legacy in popular culture is rife with bias, or capitalizes on the potential seediness and sexiness of his reign. Caligula allegedly executed two consuls for forgetting his birthday. Caligula, considered by many to be a mad and unpredictable tyrant, is also known for transferring the last legion under a senatorial proconsul to an imperial legate, completing the emperors monopoly of army command. After Germanicus died in 17 A.D., Caligulas family fell from favor in the eyes of the emperor Tiberius and the powerful Praetorian guardsman Sejanus, who saw the elder sons of the popular general as political rivals. The Roman historian Philo described those first few months as blissful, but the bliss ended almost as quickly as it started. Either affectionately or mockingly, Germanicus troops called the boy Caligula, meaning Little Boots or Booties. The nickname stuck, but Gaius reportedly hated it. 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. As Caligula became more unhinged, the aging emperor commented, I am nursing a viper in Romes bosom He didnt even know the half of it. Countless people died or were ruined as a result of his whims or paranoia. Caligula apparently also enjoyed performing and liked to show off whenever possible. In the years that followed, many fishermen swore they could see the outlines of the luxurious ships under the waves. Historians wrote that he would sleep with his own officials wives, then brag about it publicly in front of them. Caligula (12-41) was the third emperor of Rome. As legend has it, he likened himself to an immortal God who could do anything to anyone, rampaging through Rome on an unstoppable streak of spending, adultery and murder. And so, when the respected general Germanicus brought his son Gaius on campaign, the tyke sported soldiers footwear, or caligae, scaled down to his size. Which Emperor Married A Horse? - Great American Adventures 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?! One man, Francesco De Marchi, went down to the ships in a diving bell way back in 1535. The 11 Most Sexually Depraved Things the Roman Emperors Ever Did Tiberius was responsible for wiping out most of Caligulas family, but when the emperor offered to make Caligula his heir, the boy wasnt about to say no! Caligula even planned to make the horse a consul as an expression of his total power, but died before he had the opportunity. 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?). Apparently, when he entered the room and found Tiberius asleep, he had a change of heart and left, but he still felt like people had to know that he, 41. The ruins were found on Palatine Hill, where they joined the Temple of Castor and Pollox. Aside from the obvious political motivations, Chaerea had a personal vendetta against the emperor as well. Who was the most loved Roman emperor? Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Caligula, byname of Gaius Caesar, in full Gaius Caesar Germanicus, (born August 31, 12 ce, Antium, Latium [Italy]died January 24, 41, Rome), Roman emperor from 37 to 41 ce, in succession after Tiberius. As an expression of his absolute power, Caligula planned to appoint the horse to the high office of consul, but he was assassinated before he could do so. Though accounts of this event come from years after Caligulas reign, based on what we know about him, is it really that far-fetched? But it was the other members of the Roman senate who appeared to suffer the most. Ethics vs. the Law: Whats the Difference? She was said to enjoy accompanying her military hero husband Germanicus on many of his most brutal and bloody campaigns, and became his closest and most trusted political advisor. As well as having criminals and slaves sacrificed before an audience for entertainment, he was said to have even fed a section of the crowd to the beasts because they were running low on criminals. One of them committed suicide and the other starved to death just as his mother did. But just how far Caligulas taste for extremism and excess goes is still hotly debated. What is Caligula most famous for? The ruins of the house of Caligula as photographed in 1910. The oath went: I will not value my life or that of my children less highly than I do the safety of the Emperor Gaius and his sisters.In Senate motions, they said: Good fortune attend the Emperor Gaius and his sisters!, Those rumors are starting to sound a whole lot more likely, Not only did Caligula want to be a god, but he supposedly also had conversations with them. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Germanicus brought Gaius Caesar Germanicus, as young as three, along with him on his military campaigns. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It was believed that Caligula the son of Germanicus, a military man beloved by the Romans would likely display the same honorable traits and behaviors as his father. Many people in Rome were utterly shocked that the emperor would show such mercy to the boy. Icas94/De Agostini Picture Library via Getty Images. British MuseumLegend has it that Caligula loved his horse Incitatus so much he planned on anointing it to high office. Caligula is famous for being the first Roman emperor to be assassinated. Then, learn about the incredible true story of Charles Van Doren and the Quiz Show scandals. Unfortunately for Caligula, falsely accusing people and stealing their stuff didnt bring in nearly enough money to pay off his debts, so he had to resort to even more ridiculous methods. Son of the great military hero Germanicus, the people had high hopes for their new, young Emperor. According to Ancient Origins, Caligulas illness has been greatly debated. According to Suetonius, an ancient historian, Caligula's horse Incitatus had a stable made of marble and a stall made of ivory. He recovered, but by all accounts, the painful illness broke something in his mindand Rome shook from the consequences. Well never know what really happened on that dark day, but the result was clear: Caligula took the throne, and Rome trembled. Caligula lavished money on building projects, from the practical (aqueducts and harbors) to the cultural (theaters and temples) to the downright bizarre (requisitioning hundreds of Roman merchant ships to construct a 2-mile floating bridge across the Bay of Bauli so he could spend two days galloping back and forth across it). Persichini. 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. Thin, pale, and covered in large amounts of fine hair, Caligula was not blessed with natural good looks. Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in 12 AD, was the Emperor of Rome between 37 and 41 AD. Next, the conspirators went looking for Caligulas sickly uncle Claudius. Introduction. At the last minute, Caligula had an even worse ideahe turned and struck the priest instead. And as you can imagine, his choice wasnt exactly humble. He called himself Jupiter, after the Roman King of the Gods, and made senators refer to him as such. His last wife, Milonia, was the only one to have a child with him their daughter was called Julia Drusilla. Ahh politics, making things as complicated as possible for thousands of years. Perhaps a loving family might have calmed the mercurial Caligula down a littlebut tragedy soon tore his new family apart. Cruel and tyrannical Emperor Caligula ruled Ancient Rome through fear and terror. Omissions? Caligula treasured the steed so much that he gave it its own house with an ivory manger and a marble stall. On January 22, 41 AD, Caligula was busy speaking to a group of young actors in the corridors beneath his luxurious palace when Chaerea and his fellow conspirators appeared out of nowhere. Whereas Nero was sane and malignantly evil. When Augustus died on August 19, 14 A.D., however, Tiberius assumed power and sent Germanicus to the eastern provinces. 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. Caligula didnt host orgies, but that was in part because Tiberius, who was actually a known pedophile, forced him to have sex with male prostitutes as a teenager. In yet another of the famous stories about Caligulas megalomania, he once stood near a statue of Jupiter and asked a nearby actor who was more mightyhimself or the god. 7. When Germanicus died under suspicious circumstances, Agrippina boldly accused one of his rivals of poisoning him. Married Four Times, Each Was Short Lived, 13. Agrippina died of starvation in exile on a remote island, and Tiberius had the two brothers imprisoned. But he gives a straight up and down handshake to others mostly female leaders such as Theresa May and Angela Merkel. In 39 and 40 he led military campaigns to the Rhine and the English Channel, where he eschewed battles for theatrical displays, commanding his troops to plunder the sea by gathering shells in their helmets). Sources:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, Truth Hurts: Binge-Worthy Stories About The Biggest Liars Of All Time, The Unforgettable Story Of Wu Zetian, China's Most Ruthless Empress, Im Done: These People Quit Their Bad Jobs And Toxic Relationships In Epic Ways, Lawyers Share Their Oh GOD Moments In Court, Over My Dead Body: These Outrageous Funerals Prove Drama Never Dies. He particularly enjoyed silks and ornately decorated items, but he also had some unusual tastes. 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. As the water level dropped, the outlines of the ships that had sat on the bottom for centuries finally revealed themselves. Known for: Though he ruled Rome as Emperor for only four years, Caligula has been immortalised as one of history's most cruel and erratic leaders. 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. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Thats what I love when Im at a show: to hear the jerk next to me sing instead of the trained professionals on stage. 1. In the final years of his reign, Tiberius let Rome fall apart while he relaxed in his pleasure palace on Capri. So, after years of cold-blooded killings and extravagant spending, what did Caligula do that finally led to his downfall? He was sent to live with his great-grandmother Livia, who would soon die, leaving Caligula to the care of his grandmother Antonia. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. Upon taking power, Claudius . It was virtually impossible for senators to decipher how Caligula might react to any given matter. He especially didnt want any reminders of his resemblance to a goat. They found evidence of palace walls that actually joined directly to the sacred temple. The first to stab Caligula is said to have been Chaerea. Because Caligula was so young, he was sent to live with Tiberius mother, Livia Drusilla. We want our readers to trust us. But Claudius came to prove a much better leader than his wayward young nephew. He allegedly liked to spread gold coins all over the ground and walk on them with his bare feetsome stories even say he pulled a Scrooge McDuck and waded in them like water. 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. Suetonius recorded that the Romans sacrificed a whopping 160,000 animals in the first three months of Caligulas reign. He does not know yet hes about to be named the new emperor. His wives were Junia Claudilla, Livia Orestilla, Lollia Paulina and Milonia Caesonia. About halfway through his reign, Caligula broke with the senate and started using every opportunity to humiliate them. Both were dictators with absolute power and they were both stabbed 30 times by a group of conspirators led by a man named Cassius. Caligula spent a fortune having two massive barges built to be used on the volcanic Lake Nemi, about nineteen miles south of Rome. The future emperors famed history of incest is believed to have started during this time. Think of it as the ancient equivalent of miniature Nikes and tuxedo-imprinted onesies: Even in Roman times, parents liked to proudly dress their progeny in tiny versions of grownup gear. For one thing, the film has a scene in which Caligula cuts the fetus of his child with his sister, Drusilla, out of her body. The next year, Caligula moved in with the aging Tiberius, who gleefully indulged his great-nephews worst habits, commenting that he was nursing a viper in Romes bosom.. 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. He soon became one of the most hated people in the entire empire. 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. Drusilla died in a pandemic, and as far we know wasnt pregnant at the time. Persichini. From 39 to 40. What was Caligula illness? To their credit, his rule had been a pretty good example of why giving one man absolute power might not be the best idea.
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