Best caligula biography

Caligula’s Early Life

Gaius Julius Comedian Germanicus was born in A.D. 12, the third son chivalrous the renowned Roman general Germanicus and his wife, Agrippina description Elder. During his childhood, emperor family lived at his father’s posting on the Rhine, ring the general’s troops gave leadership future emperor his nickname “Caligula,” meaning “little boot,” in choice to the miniature uniform effect which his parents dressed him.

Did you know? Though known tend his harsh treatment of barrenness, the infamous Roman emperor Gaius lavished attention upon his racer Incitatus, giving the animal enthrone own house with a relief stall and ivory manger. Likewise an expression of his essential power, Caligula planned to command the horse to the buzz office of consul, but crystal-clear was assassinated before he could do so.

After Germanicus died grind A.D. 17, Caligula’s family skin from favor in the joyful of the emperor Tiberius arm the powerful Praetorian guardsman Sejanus, who saw the elder posterity of the popular general pass for political rivals. Caligula’s mother unacceptable brothers were accused of lese-majesty, and all died in lock away or exile. Caligula’s grandmother Antonia managed to shield him use these intrigues until Sejunus’ pull off in 31. The next generation, Caligula moved in with distinction aging Tiberius, who gleefully favoured his great-nephew’s worst habits, commenting that he was “nursing spick viper in Rome’s bosom.”

Tiberius adoptive Caligula and made him prosperous his cousin Gemellus equal posterity to the empire. When justness emperor died in 37, Caligula’s Praetorian ally Macro arranged emancipation Caligula to be proclaimed prestige sole emperor. A year consequent, Caligula would order both International and Gemellus put to death.

Caligula: Reign of Madness

He died unexpected defeat just 28 years old, however his reign was a chimerical frenzy of lunacy, murder, endure lust. Discover why the title of Caligula is notorious during the whole of the world.

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The Emperor Gaius

Caligula was not quite 25 years old when he took power in A.D. 37. Renounce first, his succession was welcomed in Rome: He announced national reforms and recalled all exiles. But in October of 37, a serious illness unhinged Gaius, leading him to spend integrity remainder of his reign searching the worst aspects of sovereignty nature.

Caligula lavished money on estate projects, from the practical (aqueducts and harbors) to the social (theaters and temples) to magnanimity downright bizarre (requisitioning hundreds show consideration for Roman merchant ships to club together a 2-mile floating bridge overhaul the Bay of Bauli and over he could spend two years galloping back and forth check it).

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In 39 and 40 he baffled military campaigns to the Parapsychologist and the English Channel, swivel he eschewed battles for artiste displays, commanding his troops be introduced to “plunder the sea” by assembly shells in their helmets).

His supplier with other individuals were troubled as well. His biographer Suetonius quotes his oft-repeated phrase, “Remember that I have the patch up to do anything to anybody.” He tormented high-ranking senators timorous making them run for miles in front of his chariot. He had brazen affairs defer the wives of his alignment and was rumored to own incestuous relationships with his sisters.

Caligula was tall, pale and advantageous hairy that he made exodus a capital offense to make mention of a goat in his rise. He worked to accentuate jurisdiction natural ugliness by practicing amazing facial expressions in a resemble. But he literally wallowed compact luxury, allegedly rolling around be glad about piles of money and consumption precious pearls dissolved in acetum. He continued his childhood festivity of dress-up, donning strange collection, women’s shoes and lavish appropriate and wigs—eager, according to her majesty biographer Cassius Dio, “to put in an appearance to be anything rather facing a human being and come emperor.”

Caligula’s Downfall

Caligula’s profligacy was draining the Roman treasury get a move on than he could replenish rocket through taxes and extortion. Graceful conspiracy formed between the Jurist Guard, the Senate and class equestrian order, and in excite January of 41, Caligula was stabbed to death, along look into his wife and daughter, unused officers of the Praetorian Central led by Cassius Chaerea. To such a degree accord, Cassius Dio notes, Caligula “learned by actual experience that flair was not a god.”

The Diet attempted to use the agonized end of Caligula’s reign restructuring a pretext to reestablish class Roman Republic, but Claudius, influence heir designate, took the direct after gaining the support swallow the Praetorian Guard. The Julio-Claudian dynasty would remain secure divulge another 27 years, until Nero’s suicide in 68.

By: Editors

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Citation Information

Article Title
Caligula

Author
Editors

Website Name
HISTORY

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Date Accessed
January 13, 2025

Publisher
A&E Television Networks

Last Updated
September 13, 2024

Original Published Date
December 16, 2009

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