Caligula

Caligula.Carlsberg Glyptotek.(cropped)

Exhibits in the LVR-RömerMuseum 09

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Villa Jovis, Reconstructed by C. Weichardt

Eustache Le Sueur - Caligula Depositing the Ashes of his Mother and Brother in the Tomb of his Ancestors - WGA12607

RIC 0039

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August AD 12 – 24 January AD 41), more commonly known by his nickname Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor, reigning from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41. The son of the popular Roman general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, granddaughter of Augustus, Caligula was born into the first ruling family of the Roman Empire, conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's early years were spent among the army camps and in the center of a turbulent political climate, which would shape his despotic rule.

Early Life

Caligula's father, Germanicus, was one of Rome's most beloved generals, and his mother Agrippina was a granddaughter of Augustus. Following the premature death of Germanicus under suspicious circumstances in AD 19, Caligula's family fell out of favor with the reigning Emperor Tiberius. The young Caligula was spared the worst of his family's fates and was eventually summoned to the island of Capri to live with Tiberius in AD 31. There, he waited out the death of Tiberius and, with the support of the Praetorian Guard, succeeded him in AD 37.

Reign

Caligula's reign is often characterized by its initial popularity and subsequent descent into tyranny. Initially, he was welcomed as a breath of fresh air, promising to restore the rights of the people and the Senate, which had been eroded under Tiberius. However, Caligula's rule quickly turned erratic and cruel. He is infamous for his extravagant projects, such as attempting to build a bridge of boats across the Bay of Naples, and his declaration of himself as a living god, demanding to be worshipped in temples throughout Rome.

Financially, his reign was marked by reckless spending, which drained the Roman treasury. Caligula's behavior and actions, including accusations of incest with his sisters and the execution of those he saw as threats or traitors, led to widespread dissatisfaction.

Assassination

The growing discontent with Caligula's rule culminated in a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, led by Cassius Chaerea. On 24 January AD 41, they assassinated Caligula, his wife Caesonia, and their infant daughter, Julia Drusilla, in a brutal attack. Caligula's death marked the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty's direct line, leading to the brief accession of his uncle Claudius as emperor.

Legacy

Caligula's legacy is one of controversy and infamy, largely shaped by the accounts of ancient historians such as Suetonius, Tacitus, and Cassius Dio, who portrayed him as a tyrant. Modern historians debate the accuracy of these accounts, suggesting that while Caligula's reign was undoubtedly problematic, it may have been no more tyrannical than those of other emperors of the period. Despite this, Caligula's name remains synonymous with decadence, cruelty, and madness in popular culture.