The Roman Series: Caligula the third Roman Emperor

On 31 Augustus 12 AD , Gaius Julius Caesar (named in honour of his famous
relative) was born in Antium (Anzio). 

Family

His parents were Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, who was the daughter of
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder. She was the granddaughter of 
Augustus. 

Gaius was the nephew of Claudius, Germanicus' younger brother. 

Caligula - Source picture: Wikipedia

Childhood

As a child of just two or three Gaius accompanied his father, Germanicus, on
campaigns in the north of Germania. The soldiers were amused that Gaius 
was dressed in a miniature soldier's outfit, including boots and armour. He

was soon given an affectionate  nickname, Caligula, which meant little
soldier boot in Latin. Gaius disliked his nickname.

After the death of his father, Caligula lived with his mother until her
relations with Tiberius deteriorated. Tiberius would not allow Agrippina to
remarry for fear her husband would be a rival. Agrippina and Caligula's 
brother Nero, were banished in 29 on charges of treason.

Caligula was then sent to live with his great-grandmother (and Tiberius's
mother) Livia. After her death he was sent to live with his grandmother
Antonia Minor. 

In 30 , his brother Drusus was imprisoned on charges of treason and his
brother Nero died in exile from either starvation or suicide. 

Raise to power

Tiberius gave Caligula an honary quaestorship, a position he held until
his rise to emperor. Meanwhile both Caligula's mother and his brother Drusus
died in prison. 

In 38, Caligula focused his attention on political and public reform. 
He published the accounts of public funds. He aided those who lost 
their property in fires, abolished certain taxes and gave out prizes to
the public at gymnastic events. He restored the practice of democratic
elections. 

However Caligula was criticized for executing people without full trials
and he forced the Praetorian prefect, Marco, to commit suicide. 

On 16 March 37, Tiberius died and Caligula became the new Emperor. 

Construction works

Despite financial difficulties, Caligula gave the order of a large number
of construction projects during his reign inter alia:

* The construction of the Temple of Augustus in Rome;

* The Theatre of Pompey

* the start of an amphitheatre beside the Saepta;

* he expanded his imperial palace

* aqueducts Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus 

* At Syracuse he repaired the city walls and the temple of gods. 

own picture taken in Rome 2017

Trouble with the Senate

In 39 the relations between Caligula and the Roman Senate became worse,
although the subject of their disagreement is unknown. 

Expansion

In 40, Caligula expanded the Roman Empire into Mauretania and he
even made a significant attempt at expanding into Brittania. 

Scandals

Of course there were scandals! Caligula was accused of sleeping with
other men's wives and bragging about it, killing for mere amusement. 
He wasted money on his bridge, which caused starvation. 

There is an accuse that Caligula had incest with his sisters, Agrippina
the Younger, Drusilla and Livilla. He would have turned the palace in
a brothel and he planned to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul. 

However the validity of these accounts is debatable. In Roman political
culture, insanity and sexual perversity were often presented together
with poor government.

Assassination

On 22 January 41, Cassius Chaera and other guardsmen accosted 
Caligula as he addressed an acting troupe of young men beneath the
palace during a series of games. Caligula was stabbed and by the
time a guard responded, the Emperor already was dead. The Senate
attempted to use Caligula's death as an opportunity to restore the 
Republic. But they were unable to reach Caligula's uncle Claudius.
Claudius became emperor after procuring the support of the 
Praetorian Guard.