However, after his illness, he became known for his depravity, violence, and cruelty. Caesars adopted son Octavian became the next caesar and the Roman Empire was born. Available at:https://www.museumcenter.org/the-curious-curator/2020/6/19/caligula-mad-or-misunderstood, Damiano, J, 2019. Epilepsy Behav. For a time, Caligula's efforts met with their . [92] According to Philo, the visit was met with jeers from the Greek population who saw Agrippa as the king of the Jews. Thus, his acts should be seen from other angles, and the search for "mad Caligula" abandoned. While some of the stories about Caligula are certainly true, there are several parts of the stories that are merely rumors. Caligula : I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Upon recovering, Caligula had permanently lost his hair and apparently his mind; extremely high fevers are known to cause brain damage that alters personality and mental function, and the result is very seldom an improvement. So, he may have decided to punish people who were a threat to him and his position. These days, many historians reject the notion that Caligula terrorized Rome with his unbridled madness, talking to the moon, ordering arbitrary executions and trying to make his horse a consul. "Before the . [148] Despite swimming being a part of imperial education, Caligula could not swim. In 1979 the film Caligula, directed by Tinto Brass and starring Malcolm McDowell, shocked the world with its explicit portrayal of the emperors cruel and salacious escapades. [46] Historians describe a number of Caligula's other desperate measures. The disease is found in sub-Saharan Africa and the French West Indies and is characterized by fevers, headache, scabs that form at the site of tick inoculation, and localized lymph node swelling. [139], Caligula's sister, Agrippina the Younger, wrote an autobiography that certainly included a detailed explanation of Caligula's reign, but it too is lost. [44], According to Cassius Dio, a financial crisis emerged in 39. Alexander Thomson. He aided those who lost property in fires, abolished certain taxes, and gave out prizes to the public at gymnastic events. [65] The ships burned in 1944 after an attack in the Second World War; almost nothing remains of their hulls, though many archaeological treasures remain intact in the museum at Lake Nemi and in the Museo Nazionale Romano (Palazzo Massimo) at Rome. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31, 12 - January 24, 41), most commonly known as Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from 37 to 41. Fabius Rusticus was a friend of Seneca who was known for historical embellishment and misrepresentation. [2][4] At the age of two or three, Gaius accompanied his father, Germanicus, on campaigns in the north of Germania. He had his father-in-law Marcus Junius Silanus and his brother-in-law Marcus Lepidus executed as well. AutoModerator 3 yr. ago Welcome to r/AskHistorians. The other brain fever-related conditions are meningitis, cerebritis, and scarlet fever. [87] Caligula's religious policy was a departure from that of his predecessors. Known for his extreme extravagance, eccentricity, depravity and cruelty, he is remembered as a despot. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Occasionally he was liable to faintness, during which he remained incapable of any effort". [44] Suetonius places the beginning of this crisis in 38. There are few surviving sources about the reign of Caligula, though he is described as a noble and moderate emperor during the first six months of his rule. Would you like email updates of new search results? The paucity of sources has resulted in significant gaps in modern knowledge of the reign of Caligula. now it's seem caligula prefer to end this deception and establish an eastern-hellenistic style absolute monarchy, now some No traces of the stunt have ever materialized, so most historians dismiss it as myth. A prominent figure in political circles, she also spoke out against Augustus successor Tiberius, whom she hated. Some charge him with madness and attribute it to his illness in A.D. 37, whereas others believe it occurred later, or else had nothing to do with his sickness.We have no real evidence to reconstruct his mental state. Caligula was the third emperor of the Roman empire. I cant imagine you will find a definite answer on this. "Dr Who star David Tennant given his big break by Midland theatre boss". [84][85], He would appear there on occasion and present himself as a god to the public. In the manner of the eastern monarchs, Caligula had Drusilla deified; she was the first Roman woman ever officially declared a deity, but her divinity did not survive his reign because he had so egregiously flouted Roman precedent (in contrast, when Claudius had Livia deified, he emphasized her role as diva Augusta, wife and mother of emperors). ), they went onto say he woke up after 3 months! Caligula was murdered by Cassius Chaerea and Cornelius they were The cryptoporticus (underground corridor) beneath the imperial palaces on the Palatine Hill where this event took place was discovered by archaeologists in 2008. [152][153] Based on scientific reconstructions of his official painted busts, Caligula had brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. (Some scholars think his wife Agrippina, granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus, chose the getup to emphasize her familys imperial pedigree.) [120] Caligula considered Chaerea effeminate because of a weak voice and for not being firm with tax collection. Gaetulicus, a poet, produced a number of flattering writings about Caligula, but they are lost. R.W. In books like sherlock holmes and dracula it is merely a nervous breakdown. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula was only the third Roman emperor, ascending to the imperial throne in 37 AD. They accuse Caligula of incest with his sisters, Agrippina the Younger, Drusilla, and Livilla, and say he prostituted them to other men. His father was the famous General Germanicus; his mother was Agrippina, the Elder. The emperor killed because he got bored without bloodshed, starved a city for a balance sheet, and fucked as a form of abuse. R.S. [79] "Seashells", or conchae in Latin, may be a metaphor for something else such as female genitalia (perhaps the troops visited brothels) or boats (perhaps they captured several small British boats). Caligula was deranged, and absolute power corrupted his ability to think rational and remain just. Caligula's Early Years. Josephus describes Caligula's improvements to the harbours at Rhegium and Sicily, allowing increased grain imports from Egypt, as his greatest contributions. [106][107], While repeating the earlier stories, the later sources of Suetonius and Cassius Dio provide additional tales of insanity. Philo mentions widespread sacrifice, but no estimation on the degree, Philo of Alexandria. [70], In 40, Caligula expanded the Roman Empire into Mauretania,[2] a client kingdom of Rome ruled by Ptolemy of Mauretania. [121] Caligula would mock Chaerea with names like "Priapus" and "Venus". "[18] In 33, Tiberius gave Caligula an honorary quaestorship, a position he held until his rise to emperor. For the first six months he was a good ruler, but that all changed when he became ill with what was described at the time as a "brain fever." After his illness, Caligula became a vicious tyrant. In his early reign, Caligula is often described as the first Roman empire admired by everyone in all the world, from the rising to the setting sun. He charmed the people of Rome. He was the son of Germanicus and the future emperor spent his early years on military campaigns with his father. [2] He was also a nephew of Claudius, Germanicus' younger brother and the future emperor. [22] In 35, Caligula was named joint heir to Tiberius' estate along with Tiberius Gemellus. [99] Once, at some games at which he was presiding, he was said to have ordered his guards to throw an entire section of the audience into the arena during the intermission to be eaten by the wild beasts because there were no prisoners to be used and he was bored. Perhaps his illness reminded him of his mortality and of the desire of others to advance into his place. Before falling ill, he was known as the baby, the star of the empire of Rome. The two older brothers of Gaius were Nero and Drusus. Agrippa was rewarded with his territories. After nearly six months on the throne, Caligula fell ill. 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. [26] To gain support, he granted bonuses to the military, including the Praetorian Guard, city troops and the army outside Italy. and appointed a priest to serve him. Publishing Editor. [114], Caligula's actions as emperor were described as being especially harsh to the Senate, to the nobility and to the equestrian order. Davies, "The Abortive Invasion of Britain by Gaius". His younger sisters were Julia Drusilla, Agrippina the Younger, and Julia Livilla. A few of the contemporaneous historians are known by name. Ancient historians state that Caligula began falsely accusing, fining and even killing individuals for the purpose of seizing their estates. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. A Net Inceptions project. [17] Seneca the Elder and Philo, who both wrote during Tiberius' reign, as well as Josephus, record Tiberius as dying a natural death. [76] However, the rebellion of Tacfarinas had shown how exposed Africa Proconsularis was to its west and how the Mauretanian client kings were unable to provide protection to the province, and it is thus possible that Caligula's expansion was a prudent response to potential future threats.[74]. Suetonius described Caligula as sickly-looking, skinny and pale: "he was tall, very pale, ill-shaped, his neck and legs very slender, his eyes and temples hollow, his brows broad and knit, his hair thin, and the crown of the head bald. All the details of Caligula's (Malcolm McDowell) cruel, bizarre reign are revealed right here: his unholy sexual passion for his sister, his marriage to Rome's most infamous prostitute, his fiendishly inventive means of disposing those who would oppose him, and more. Like none, so you could be very corrupt and end up assainated. So it was that Caligula's place in Roman history was secured. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. [72] Pliny claims that division was the work of Caligula, but Dio states that in 42 an uprising took place, which was subdued by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, and the division only took place after this. Quite the twist at the end. Proculus : Divine Ceasar, PLEASE! The emperor was born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus and reportedly hated his nickname. Please read the rules before participating, as we remove all comments which break the rules. [43] During the same year, though, Caligula was criticized for executing people without full trials and for forcing the Praetorian prefect, Macro, to commit suicide. [6] Gaius reportedly grew to dislike the nickname. However, evidence of the emperors extravagant lifestyle has surfaced at Lake Nemi, where workers salvaged two massive pleasure bargescomplete with marble dcor, mosaic floors and statuesin the late 1920s and early 1930s. Modern historians have put forward numerous theories in an attempt to explain these actions. Caligula's reign in Rome lit up Hell like a new kind of fire. [17][24] Tacitus writes that Macro smothered Tiberius with a pillow to hasten Caligula's accession, much to the joy of the Roman people,[24] while Suetonius writes that Caligula may have carried out the killing, though this is not recorded by any other ancient historian. The reign began with good feelings all around, since Caligula declared an amnesty for all Romans imprisoned or exiled under Tiberius, posthumously restored honor to his mother and brothers, and stopped the treason trials, getting rid of the informers in the process. He began to order the assassination of anyone whom he believed posed a threat. [134] Claudius became emperor after procuring the support of the Praetorian Guard. Additionally, given Caligula's unpopularity among the surviving sources, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. [68] Additionally, Tiberius' treason trials had eliminated a number of pro-Julian senators such as Asinius Gallus. He ordered a number of citizens of Rome murdered under the flimsiest of pretexts, torturing the victims and taking pleasure in their pain. [88] Caligula took things a step further and had those in Rome, including senators, worship him as a tangible, living god. [145] Juvenal reports he was given a magic potion that drove him insane. Before [74], Details on the Mauretanian events of 3944 are unclear. Some charge him with madness and attribute it to his illness in A.D. 37, whereas others believe it occurred later, or else had nothing to do with his sickness.We have no real evidence to reconstruct his mental state. His younger sisters were Julia Drusilla, Agrippina the Younger, and Julia Livilla. It has been [78] The mission may have been to accept the surrender of the British chieftain Adminius. To gain funds, Caligula asked the public to lend the state money. p. 111. [68] Caligula reviewed Tiberius' records of treason trials and decided, based on their actions during these trials, that numerous senators were not trustworthy. [69] Suetonius reports that other senators were degraded by being forced to wait on him and run beside his chariot. It's unfortunate for Caligulaand for everybody around himthat he was so changed. Caligula : If only all of Rome had just one neck. Herod Antipas confessed and Caligula exiled him. Recent sources are divided in attempting to ascribe a medical reason for his behavior, citing as possibilities encephalitis, epilepsy or meningitis. Late in 37 A.D., Caligula fell ill with some sort of brain fever. [80] The conquest of Britannia was later achieved during the reign of his successor, Claudius. But, after his recovery, there was a striking change in his behavior. "[9][16], Caligula claimed to have planned to kill Tiberius with a dagger to avenge his mother and brother: however, having brought the weapon into Tiberius' bedroom he did not kill the Emperor but instead threw the dagger down on the floor. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. It looks like he suffered some kind of brain damage from this extended sicknessmaybe a prolonged high fever, but that's just my guess. [50] Centurions who had acquired property by plunder were forced to turn over spoils to the state. He was the brother of Caligula's He had a horse named Incitatus, who was his favorite. It was the first major motion picture that juxtaposed segments featuring respected, mainstream actors with scenes that were essentially pornographic. Caligula invited Ptolemy to Rome and then suddenly had him executed. His parents were Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder , and he was one of six children, with siblings named Nero, Drusus, Agrippina the Younger, Julia Drusilla, and Julia Livilla. [131] The military, though, remained loyal to the idea of imperial monarchy. [96] Riots again erupted in Alexandria in 40 between Jews and Greeks. All Rights Reserved. Agrippina was banished by Caligula for her connection to Marcus Lepidus, who conspired against him. Careers. [61] Caligula had planned to rebuild the palace of Polycrates at Samos, to finish the temple of Didymaean Apollo at Ephesus and to found a city high up in the Alps. The smaller ship was designed as a temple dedicated to Diana. The strange behavior of emperor Gaius has been the subject of debate for many historians. At the other end of the spectrum is Emperor Caligula who the historian Suetonius (c. 69 - c. 130/140 CE) simply calls a monster. [97] However, Caligula issued a second order to have his statue erected in the Temple of Jerusalem. She then starved herself to death while in prison, four years before her son Caligula came into power. One of the most infamous emperors was Gaius Caesar or as history has branded him the cognomen "Caligula" after his tours in Gaul with his father Germanicus. [17] Suetonius claims that Caligula was already cruel and vicious: he writes that when Tiberius brought Caligula to Capri, his purpose was to allow Caligula to live in order that he "prove the ruin of himself and of all men, and that he was rearing a viper for the Roman people and a Phaethon for the world. Roman territories continued to expand for another 150 years, and wealth poured into the capital. Mental health of UK Members of Parliament in the House of Commons: a cross-sectional survey. But assuming the much-maligned emperor was the loon his chroniclers describe, some scholars have suggested that an illness made him come unhingedpossibly temporal lobe epilepsy, hyperthyroidism or Wilsons disease, an inherited disorder that can cause mental instability. [citation needed]. [116] Eventually, officers within the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea succeeded in murdering the emperor. Josephus gives a detailed description of Caligula's assassination. [70] Soon afterwards, the Governor of Germany, Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus, was executed for connections to a conspiracy. Sex And Violence In Rome: Caligulas Empire And The Salacious Rumors That Built It. Known for his extreme extravagance, eccentricity, depravity and cruelty, he is remembered as a despot. [96][142][143] Seneca states that Caligula became arrogant, angry and insulting once he became emperor and uses his personality flaws as examples his readers can learn from. [119] Suetonius sees the motive in Caligula calling Chaerea derogatory names. [25] Backed by Macro, Caligula had Tiberius' will nullified with regard to Gemellus on grounds of insanity, but he otherwise carried out Tiberius' wishes. We thank you for your interest in this question, and your patience in waiting for an in-depth and comprehensive answer to be written, which takes time. Historians believe that he probably went insane. Gaius Caesar, now known to history as the third Roman emperor Caligula, was the son of the popular general and dynastic heir, Germanicus, and great grandson of Augustus through his mother. 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. [33] Caligula's first acts were said to be generous in spirit, though many were political in nature. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Archaeologists unearth place where Emperor Caligula met his end", "The True Colours Of Greek and Roman Statues By Archaeologist Vinzenz Brinkmann", "Caligula's tomb found after police arrest man trying to smuggle statue", "Roman Empire Caligula The Mad Emperor Netflix release date, cast, trailer, plot", The portrait of Caligula in the Digital Sculpture Project, Caligula Attempts to Conquer Britain in AD 40, Franz Lidz, "Caligula's Garden of Delights, Unearthed and Restored", New York Times, Jan. 12, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caligula&oldid=1133277788, Caligula is a character in the 2015 NBC series, A young Caligula appears as one of the characters in, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 00:36. Punish people who were a threat parts of the British chieftain Adminius, `` the Abortive of. The imperial throne in 37 A.D., Caligula asked the public to lend the.... 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Imperial education, Caligula issued a second order to have his statue erected in the of.