Caligula Essay, Research Paper

Caligula has been known to history as a colorful emperor. He is the youngest

son of Germanicus Ceaser and the grandnephew of Tiberius. Caligula as a child

was said to have been very ill with a high fever that probably affected his mind.

That would explain all the strange things that he did throughout his life.

Gaius was given the name Caligula (Latin for ?little boot?) in the military

camps where he spent some of his early life. He succeeded his granduncle

Tiberius in the year 37. Caligula was very popular with the army at first since he

had served himself. Unlike Tiberius, Caligula was not concerned with having a

surplus in the Roman treasury. Soon after he came to power, he began to throw

lavish festivals and gladiator games. The people of Rome knew that he was

depleting the treasury, and quickly became unpopular. He soon answered them

with acts of tyranny and began to have people executed at whim. He banished

or murdered most of his own relatives. Caligula committed incest with two of his

three sisters. His retreat is to Capri where he indulges himself in immoral acts

with young boys, among others.

In 37, Caligula becomes ill, and tells all that he is not really ill, but is

metamorphasizing into a god. He then forces the Senate to deify himself and his

three sisters. He also forces the Sensate to make his horse a Senator on the

grounds that it is Alexander The Great?s horse reincarnated. This all becomes

too much for the people of Rome. The leader of the Praetorian Guard leads a

revolt and Caligula is assassinated on January 24, 41.