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). Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Adopting his fathers distinguished name, he became Gaius Caesar Germanicus. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Cruel and tyrannical Emperor Caligula ruled Ancient Rome through fear and terror. Gaius was a loyal little soldier, then, and his eternal nickname Caligula was born while on these campaigns as hed wear a military uniform replete with little boots, and subsequently became a sort of mascot to the troops. Gaius Caesar Germanicus was born in Antium (modern-day Anzio), Italy on August 31, 12 A.D. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. The mad emperor didnt realize it, but before long, Emperor Claudius would be dancing on his grave. Born Gaius Caesar, he became known as Caligula (Little Boot), a childhood nickname bestowed on him by the soldiers of his father, Germanicus Caesar, nephew and adoptive son of Tiberius. Both his wife and one-year old daughter were also murdered at the imperial palace. According to Suetonius, Caligula in his infinite profligacy once constructed a temporary floating bridge across the Bay of Baiae just so he could ride triumphantly from one end to the other. On the day of Caligulas brutal end, the Senate and the Praetorian Guard pillaged and sank his fabulous Lake Nemi barges. Married Four Times, Each Was Short Lived, 13. WATCH: Full episodes of Colosseum online now. Caligula was cold-blooded from the start. 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. One theory is that he wanted to prove to the Egyptian leaders that Rome was capable of matching any luxury craft that they built. But this was Ancient Rome, and powerful people didnt usually drop dead without a reason; rumors spread like wildfire that Tiberius had been behind Germanicuss end. 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.. The Roman populace had by now grown weary of this mad and unpredictable tyrant, and several conspiracies were formed against him. And his only ambition to that point must have been to survive.. Remembered as a cruel and erratic tyrant, his deranged tendencies threw Rome into chaosand eventually caused his violent end. Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in 12 AD, was the Emperor of Rome between 37 and 41 AD. The Julio-Claudian dynasty would remain secure for another 17 years, until Neros suicide in 68. All this rabble-rousing didnt sit well with the emperor, who had Agrippina floggedsupposedly until she lost an eye. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Nero was worse, because Caligula was to put it succinctly batshit crazy. Legend has it that Caligula loved his horse Incitatus so much he planned on anointing it to high office. As such, the troops took to calling him Caligula, which means little boots. We dont know if the men meant it affectionately or as an insult, but either way, Caligula apparently hated the nickname. He then apparently laughed at the priest as he died. Also known as: Gaius Caesar, Gaius Caesar Germanicus. All Rights Reserved. In 2008, archaeologists managed to find the actual corridor in Caligulas palace where the killing took place. Whether it was poison, trauma, mental illness, overblown rumors, or coming of age in a toxic environment, Caligulas behavior nonetheless left him unpopular. According to Suetonius, the few remaining Julii were mere prisoners, constantly under the eye of Tiberiuss men. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Caligula was devastated by her death and had her declared a goddess, but thats as far as his devotion to her went, he concluded. Cruel and tyrannical Emperor Caligula ruled Ancient Rome through fear and terror. Claudius completed the Roman annexation of Britain. Agrippina often and openly expressed her dislike for her sons predecessor, Emperor Tiberius. The senators set about restoring the Roman Republic, but there was one glaring problem. Eventually, Tiberius had her exiled, where she refused all food, eventually wasting away. About halfway through his reign, Caligula broke with the senate and started using every opportunity to humiliate them. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caligula-Roman-emperor, GlobalSecurity.org - Biography of Caligula. This scene is great if youre a horror film fan, Dondo-Collins said, but not so great when it comes to historical accuracy. Because Im sure that fooled everybody. After depleting the coffers at one point, he had the bright idea to turn the palace into an . 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.

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