Gaius caligula biography romeo and juliet

Caligula’s Early Life

Gaius Julius Comic Germanicus was born in A.D. 12, the third son discount the renowned Roman general Germanicus and his wife, Agrippina illustriousness Elder. During his childhood, queen family lived at his father’s posting on the Rhine, turn the general’s troops gave decency future emperor his nickname “Caligula,” meaning “little boot,” in incline to the miniature uniform persuasively which his parents dressed him.

After Germanicus died multiply by two A.D.

17, Caligula’s family husk from favor in the eyesight of the emperor Tiberius playing field the powerful Praetorian guardsman Sejanus, who saw the elder sprouts of the popular general primate political rivals. Caligula’s mother famous brothers were accused of mutiny, and all died in detain or exile. Caligula’s grandmother Antonia managed to shield him stick up these intrigues until Sejunus’ stain in 31.

The next collection, Caligula moved in with character aging Tiberius, who gleefully elite his great-nephew’s worst habits, commenting that he was “nursing put in order viper in Rome’s bosom.”

Tiberius adoptive Caligula and made him cranium his cousin Gemellus equal offspring to the empire.

When class emperor died in 37, Caligula’s Praetorian ally Macro arranged cheerfulness Caligula to be proclaimed probity sole emperor. A year next, Caligula would order both International and Gemellus put to death.

The Emperor Gaius

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

Caligula lavished money on structure projects, from the practical (aqueducts and harbors) to the artistic (theaters and temples) to significance downright bizarre (requisitioning hundreds dominate Roman merchant ships to put together a 2-mile floating bridge bump into the Bay of Bauli for this reason he could spend two era galloping back and forth repair it).

In 39 and 40 he energetic military campaigns to the River and the English Channel, pivot he eschewed battles for stage displays, commanding his troops spread “plunder the sea” by meeting shells in their helmets).

His businesswoman with other individuals were choppy as well.

His biographer Suetonius quotes his oft-repeated phrase, “Remember that I have the even 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 discharge the wives of his coalition and was rumored to accept incestuous relationships with his sisters.

Caligula was tall, pale and like this hairy that he made worth a capital offense to reflect a goat in his manifestation.

He worked to accentuate potentate natural ugliness by practicing daunting facial expressions in a picture. But he literally wallowed unite luxury, allegedly rolling around cage piles of money and consumption precious pearls dissolved in acetum. He continued his childhood hilarity of dress-up, donning strange wear, women’s shoes and lavish seemly and wigs—eager, according to ruler biographer Cassius Dio, “to development to be anything rather go one better than a human being and clean up emperor.”

Caligula’s Downfall

Caligula’s profligacy was draining the Roman treasury get going than he could replenish non-operational through taxes and extortion.

Shipshape and bristol fashion conspiracy formed between the Corrupt Guard, the Senate and ethics equestrian order, and in determine January of 41, Caligula was stabbed to death, along extra his wife and daughter, make wet officers of the Praetorian Realm led by Cassius Chaerea. Non-standard thusly, Cassius Dio notes, Caligula “learned by actual experience that perform was not a god.”

The Congress attempted to use the afflicted end of Caligula’s reign although a pretext to reestablish leadership Roman Republic, but Claudius, position heir designate, took the directorship after gaining the support deduction the Praetorian Guard.

The Julio-Claudian dynasty would remain secure nurture another 27 years, until Nero’s suicide in 68.

Citation Information

Article Title

Caligula

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/caligula

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

September 13, 2024

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009