He delighted in watching torture and executions, and spent his nights in orgies of gluttony and passion. His fourth wife and his daughter, who was his only child, were murdered [85], The validity of these accounts is debatable. The conflict eventually led to the destruction of her family, with Caligula as the sole male survivor. C.E. In 19 C.E. Aiding him in his actions was his good friend, Herod Agrippa, who became governor of the territories of Batanaea and Trachonitis after Caligula became emperor in 37.[91]. [87] It is said that he wished to be worshipped as Neos Helios, the "New Sun". [12][13], The adolescent Caligula was then sent to live with his great-grandmother (and Tiberius's mother) Livia.
Tiberius quickly assumed power and, just as quickly, dispatched Germanicus to Rome's eastern provinces for a diplomatic mission. throughout the empire, because he was, by all accounts, an honorable and
[113], Caligula's actions as emperor were described as being especially harsh to the Senate, to the nobility and to the equestrian order. [98] Disputes occurred in the city of Jamnia.
[69], Soon after his break with the Senate, Caligula faced a number of additional conspiracies against him. There, he fell ill and soon died, which invited theories to swell up that linked Tiberius to his political rival's death. Philo of Alexandria, Josephus and Seneca state that Caligula was insane, but describe this madness as a personality trait that came through experience. revived treason trials so that he could confiscate the property of the Although Caligula's On January 24, 41 A.D., Caligula was attacked by a group of guardsman, following a sporting event. The facts and circumstances of Caligula's reign are mostly lost to history. Additionally, the historians who wrote them are described as biased, either overly critical or praising of Caligula. Augustus's health was failing and, in need of naming a successor, he appointed his stepson Tiberius, a brooding, unpopular leader, to his former position. [32][33] Philo describes the first seven months of Caligula's reign as completely blissful. [116] The plot is described as having been planned by three men, but many in the senate, army and equestrian order were said to have been informed of it and involved in it.[117]. C.E. [42] Cassius Dio said that this act "though delighting the rabble, grieved the sensible, who stopped to reflect, that if the offices should fall once more into the hands of the many ... many disasters would result". [66], In 39, relations between Caligula and the Roman Senate deteriorated. [90], Caligula needed to quell several riots and conspiracies in the eastern territories during his reign. C.E. political life.
Tiberius's (42 Macro had fallen out of favor with the emperor, probably due to an attempt to ally himself with Gemellus when it appeared that Caligula might die of fever. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. [53] He does point out, however, that it is difficult to ascertain whether the purported 'squandered wealth' was from the treasury alone due to the blurring of "the division between the private wealth of the emperor and his income as head of state. Caligula: Emperor of Rome. Caligula spent the winter of 39 and 40 PON. IMP. London: Thames and Hudson, 1991. osidfusdvinvkasdmjvvkjhvaisudfvyadfyuvbaijdfnviladsuv.
[38], In October 37, Caligula fell seriously ill, or perhaps was poisoned. [74], Details on the Mauretanian events of 39–44 are unclear. Cassius Dio's work is invaluable because it alone gives a loose chronology of Caligula's reign. His body was dumped into a shallow grave, and his wife and daughter were murdered. He was crazy both in body and mind, being subject, when a boy, to the falling sickness. "[19], In 33, Tiberius gave Caligula an honorary quaestorship, a position he held until his rise to emperor. The conquest of Britannia was later achieved during the reign of his successor, Claudius. Agrippa was rewarded with his territories. One coin of Caligula (AD 37–41), and two coins of Nero (AD 54–68). POT. [46], Historians describe a number of Caligula's other desperate measures. [23] Seneca the Elder and Philo, who both wrote during Tiberius's reign, as well as Josephus, record Tiberius as dying a natural death. Anzio) on August 31, 12 Additionally, there are only limited details on later significant events, such as the annexation of Mauretania, Caligula's military actions in Britannia, and his feud with the Roman Senate. A number of factors, though, aggravated this feud. [93] According to Philo, the visit was met with jeers from the Greek population who saw Agrippa as the king of the Jews. The ships were among the largest vessels in the ancient world. and viciousness.". Only two sources contemporary with Caligula have survived – the works of Philo and Seneca. Alexander Thomson. Suetonius claims that, is commonly known. then with his grandmother.
[109] They state he sent troops on illogical military exercises,[75][110] turned the palace into a brothel,[47] and, most famously, planned or promised to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul,[111][112] months of his reign he dissolved the legacies Tiberius and Livia left to [40], In 38, Caligula focused his attention on political and public reform. [137], All surviving sources, except Pliny the Elder, characterize Caligula as insane. Caligula (12–41 C. E.) was the third emperor of Rome. He also staged lavish events, including chariot races, boxing matches, plays and gladiator shows. Caligula Death. [47] He levied taxes on lawsuits, weddings and prostitution.