Caligula
(Caius Caesar Germanicus)
12–41
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Caligula succeeded to the imperial throne on the death of Tiberius, at the age of 25 and for the first few months of his reign all went well. He soon came down with a very severe fever and it is generally believed that after this illness he became insane. He quickly thereafter became a sadistic autocrat, who began to kill, and execute, and torture his subjects in a bizarre manner. His reign is full of stories of atrocities and blasphemous incidents, including random massacres and the elevation of his horse to an office of state. Though he had enjoyed great popularity at the beginning of his reign, when he was assassinated by his praetorian guard, there was universal relief. He was succeeded by his uncle Claudius.
Key events during the life of Caligula:
| Ascended to imperial throne after death of Tiberius. | |
| Suffered illness that was thought to affect his sanity. | |
| Murdered Marco, who had helped him gain the throne. Begins reckless purges. | |
| Continues bizarre behavior. Has horse deified. | |
| Caligula deifies himself. Ordered statue of himself to be placed in temple in Jerusalem. | |
| Murdered by the praetorian guard. |
Other Resources
| Assassination of Caligula in | Nero by Jacob Abbott |
| Madman on the Throne in | Pictures from Roman Life and Story by Alfred J. Church |
| Wild Caligula in | The Story of the Romans by H. A. Guerber |
| How Caligula Conquered Britain in | Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall |
| Imperial Monster in | Historical Tales: Roman by Charles Morris |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
 Caesonia in Nero |
 Caligula in Pictures from Roman Life and Story |
Caesonia gave him a love-potion. in Pictures from Roman Life and Story |
 Rulers of the Early Empire in Greatest Nations - Rome |
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| Fourth emperor. Manipulated by wicked wives, Messalina and Agrippina. | |
| Agrippina the Elder | Granddaughter of Augustus Caesar; accused Tiberius of killing her husband Germanicus. |