Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very . If the illness caused his madness, then it is easy to see how dangerous it can be to concentrate power in one man. [127] By the time Caligula's loyal Germanic guard responded, the Emperor was already dead. [97] Disputes occurred in the city of Jamnia. Upon recovering, Caligula had permanently lost his hair and apparently his mind; extremely high fevers are known to cause brain damage that alters personality and mental function, and the result is very seldom an improvement. While the reliability of these sources is questionable, it is known that during his brief reign, Caligula worked to increase the unconstrained personal power of the emperor, as opposed to countervailing powers within the principate. 38 CE: Early in the year, Caligula forced his father-in-law, Gaius Silanus, and young Gemellus, grandson of Tiberius, to commit suicide by accusing them of treasonable activities. The emperor was born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus and reportedly hated his nickname. Davies, "The Abortive Invasion of Britain by Gaius". Morgan, "Caligula's Illness Again", CW 66(1973), 327329. 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. A few of the contemporaneous historians are known by name. Although Tiberius was 77 and on his deathbed, some ancient historians still conjecture that he was murdered. Supposedly Tiberius knew of this but never dared to do anything about it. [17] Macro spoke well of Caligula to Tiberius, attempting to quell any ill will or suspicion the Emperor felt towards Caligula. [45] Caligula's political payments for support, generosity and extravagance had exhausted the state's treasury. The paucity of sources has resulted in significant gaps in modern knowledge of the reign of Caligula. There were a number of freedmen in his close circle who attained considerable influence: Helicon, his chamberlain; Apelles, a tragic actor; and most wealthy and powerful of all, Callistus, a kind of imperial secretary. [116] Eventually, officers within the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea succeeded in murdering the emperor. He ordered a number of citizens of Rome murdered under the flimsiest of pretexts, torturing the victims and taking pleasure in their pain. His favourite sister, Julia Drusilla, died in 38 of a fever: his other two sisters, Livilla and Agrippina the Younger, were exiled. [108] Additionally, they mention affairs with various men including his brother-in-law Marcus Lepidus. Ancient sources, like Roman biographers Suetonius and Cassius Dio, describe Caligula having a "brain fever." Philo of Alexandria reports it was nothing more than a nervous breakdown, as Caligula was not used to the pressures of constant attention after being out of the public eye for most of his life. Brain fever is a medical infection or an infection caused by bacteria or viruses, which results in inflammation of the brain. [152][153] Based on scientific reconstructions of his official painted busts, Caligula had brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. The Senate had become accustomed to ruling without an emperor between the departure of Tiberius for Capri in 26 and Caligula's accession. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. [34] He helped those who had been harmed by the imperial tax system, banished certain sexual deviants, and put on lavish spectacles for the public, including gladiatorial games. Tacitus provides some information on Caligula's life under Tiberius. He was . Reply . official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Caligula was murdered by Cassius Chaerea and Cornelius they were [75] This campaign is derided by ancient historians with accounts of Gauls dressed up as Germanic tribesmen at his triumph and Roman troops ordered to collect seashells as "spoils of the sea". Dictys of Crete: Was There a War Reporter Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Battle of Culloden. Representations of epilepsy on the stage: From the Greeks to the 20th century. ago The funniest Roman emperor 172 44 r/ancientrome Join 5 mo. [128] These wounded conspirators were treated by the physician Arcyon. [63] This act was in defiance of a prediction by Tiberius' soothsayer Thrasyllus of Mendes that Caligula had "no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Bay of Baiae". [70], In 40, Caligula expanded the Roman Empire into Mauretania,[2] a client kingdom of Rome ruled by Ptolemy of Mauretania. [44], According to Cassius Dio, a financial crisis emerged in 39. Caligula : If only all of Rome had just one neck. Gaius Caesar, now known to history as the third Roman emperor Caligula, was the son of the popular general and dynastic heir, Germanicus, and great grandson of Augustus through his mother. The strange behavior of emperor Gaius has been the subject of debate for many historians. Caligula began appearing in public dressed as various gods and demigods such as Hercules, Mercury, Venus and Apollo. He was all-powerful under the new Roman order, he could do what he wanted, and so he did. Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. It was the first major motion picture that juxtaposed segments featuring respected, mainstream actors with scenes that were essentially pornographic. In his The Twelve Caesars he further added: A number of accounts of the life of Caligula have been delivered by sources that were not present at the time of his rule. [39], In 38, Caligula focused his attention on political and public reform. [60], At Syracuse, he repaired the city walls and the temples of the gods. Agrippa was rewarded with his territories. Retrieved 4 February 2009. [74] The first known equestrian governor of the two provinces was Marcus Fadius Celer Flavianus, in office in 44. In the centuries before the birth of Christ, the pre-eminent power of the northern shores of the Mediterranean was the Roman Republic. Skip to content. Caligula's death marked the official end of the Julii Caesares in the male line, though the Julio-Claudian dynasty continued to rule until the demise of his nephew, Nero. Born Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus on 31 August 12 AD in Antium, Italy, Caligula was the third child among the six surviving children of the Roman general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder. May 1, 2020 By Rosie Lesso, MA Contemporary Art Theory, BA Fine Art Please consider Clicking Here for RemindMeBot, or using these alternatives. [130] Chaerea tried to persuade the military to support the Senate. [23], When Tiberius died on 16 March AD37, his estate and the titles of the principate were left to Caligula and to Tiberius' own grandson, Gemellus, who were to serve as joint heirs. Find out whether the much-maligned emperor was as crazy as they say. Caligula had the heads removed from various statues of gods located across Rome and replaced them with his own. Gaetulicus, a poet, produced a number of flattering writings about Caligula, but they are lost. It is a small but evocative section of the sprawling Horti Lamiani, imperial gardens that the Roman emperor Caligula, history's most wild and crazy guy, used for his depraved blowouts during his . His gesture of lowering the taxes on sales of the slaves pleased the upper-class Romans as well as the Senate. The Oregon Meteorite Mystery: Was the Port Orford Incident a Hoax? Two Truths and a Lie: Ancient Rome . Either affectionately or mockingly, Germanicus troops called the boy Caligula, meaning Little Boots or Booties. The nickname stuck, but Gaius reportedly hated it. [48] Caligula began auctioning the lives of the gladiators at shows. [19] Meanwhile, both Caligula's mother and his brother Drusus died in prison. Suetonius: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars; An English Translation, Augmented with the Biographies of Contemporary Statesmen, Orators, Poets, and Other Associates. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. But its cause is ultimately unclear. [68] Caligula reviewed Tiberius' records of treason trials and decided, based on their actions during these trials, that numerous senators were not trustworthy. (The Roman historian added that these trysts even occurred during banquets, as guests and Caligulas wife gathered around.) [6] Gaius reportedly grew to dislike the nickname. So, there are chances that some rivals and historians may have incorporated falsehoods and personal biases to defame Caligula. "[29] Caligula was loved by many for being the beloved son of the popular Germanicus[28] and because he was not Tiberius. Would you like email updates of new search results? He was the brother of Caligula's [38] He had his cousin and adopted son Tiberius Gemellus executed an act that outraged Caligula's and Gemellus' mutual grandmother Antonia Minor. [75] Caligula's move seemingly had a strictly personal political motive fear and jealousy of his cousin Ptolemy and thus the expansion may not have been prompted by pressing military or economic needs. In the manner of the eastern monarchs, Caligula had Drusilla deified; she was the first Roman woman ever officially declared a deity, but her divinity did not survive his reign because he had so egregiously flouted Roman precedent (in contrast, when Claudius had Livia deified, he emphasized her role as diva Augusta, wife and mother of emperors). So, he may have decided to punish people who were a threat to him and his position. In fact, they found out almost immediately. Known for his extreme extravagance, eccentricity, depravity and cruelty, he is remembered as a despot. [51] However, some historians have shown scepticism towards the large number of sesterces quoted by Suetonius and Dio. Aldrete, Gregory. Historians believe that he probably went insane. [76] However, the rebellion of Tacfarinas had shown how exposed Africa Proconsularis was to its west and how the Mauretanian client kings were unable to provide protection to the province, and it is thus possible that Caligula's expansion was a prudent response to potential future threats.[74]. Caligula invited Ptolemy to Rome and then suddenly had him executed. Caligula did not trust the prefect of Egypt, Aulus Avilius Flaccus. In Rome, another statue of himself, of colossal size, was made of gilt brass for the purpose. She is said to have committed suicide, although Suetonius hints that Caligula poisoned her. Additionally, given Caligula's unpopularity among the surviving sources, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. We thank you for your interest in this question, and your patience in waiting for an in-depth and comprehensive answer to be written, which takes time. Quite the twist at the end. According to Cassius Dio, living emperors could be worshipped as divine in the east and dead emperors could be worshipped as divine in Rome. The lake's name, Nemi, comes from the Latin word nemus, meaning "holy wood". Although the prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Macro, had been influential in helping Caligula secure the throne, the emperor apparently felt that Macro was becoming too powerful. The strange behavior of emperor Gaius has been the subject of debate for many historians. Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. ^ Birmingham Mail (5 May 2013). [84][85], He would appear there on occasion and present himself as a god to the public. Caligula : I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. 1958 Jul;2(3):202-9. doi: 10.1017/s0025727300023759. [95], In 39, Agrippa accused his uncle Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, of planning a rebellion against Roman rule with the help of Parthia. Ancient sources, like Suetonius and Cassius Dio, describe Caligula having a "brain fever". R.S. But if his leadership skills were so abysmal, some scholars. But, after his recovery, there was a striking change in his behavior. Palmerini, Luca M.; Mistretta, Gaetano (1996). MeSH He singlehandedly tore down the empire, drained the treasury and undid most of what . After about four years of depravity, dramatic stunts, and cruelty, Caligula was assassinated. Brain fever in the 1800's was a very vague condition that covered many things like meningitus. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. The cryptoporticus (underground corridor) beneath the imperial palaces on the Palatine Hill where this event took place was discovered by archaeologists in 2008. Helen Mirren in a scene from . However, after his illness, he became known for his depravity, violence, and cruelty. Epilepsy Behav. I know in precise detail what Caligula did to, and . Pliny the Elder's Natural History has a few brief references to Caligula. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. To gain funds, Caligula asked the public to lend the state money. [131] The military, though, remained loyal to the idea of imperial monarchy. [11][12] The adolescent Caligula was sent to live with his great-grandmother (Tiberius' mother), Livia;[9] After her death, he was sent to live with his grandmother Antonia Minor. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. According to Wilkinson, Caligula's use of precious metals to mint coins throughout his principate indicates that the treasury most likely never fell into bankruptcy. His father was the famous General Germanicus; his mother was Agrippina, the Elder. The conflict eventually led to the destruction of her family, with Caligula as the sole male survivor. After this, the sources focus upon his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion, presenting him as an insane tyrant. [82] Reportedly, he began referring to himself as a god when meeting with politicians and he was referred to as "Jupiter" on occasion in public documents. Accept Read More, Two Roman Emperors With a Social Conscience, Roman Concrete: Volcanic Material Created An Empire. [20][21] Caligula was briefly married to Junia Claudilla in 33, though she died in childbirth the following year. He became increasingly erratic and cruel. [71] Mauretania was annexed by Caligula and subsequently divided into two provinces, Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis, separated by the river Malua. [69] Soon after his break with the Senate, Caligula faced a number of additional conspiracies against him. [37], In October 37, Caligula fell seriously ill or perhaps was poisoned. He amazed the soldiers as he dressed up in a miniature outfit of the soldiers and also wore armor and boots. Caligula was only the third Roman emperor, ascending to the imperial throne in 37 AD. Indeed, he was represented as a sun god on Egyptian coins. It's easy to see how this description might have come about. [55] These improvements may have been in response to the famine. He had his father-in-law Marcus Junius Silanus and his brother-in-law Marcus Lepidus executed as well. [98] In response, Caligula ordered the erection of a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem,[99] a demand in conflict with Jewish monotheism. Aldrete, G, 2019. Perhaps his illness reminded him of his mortality and of the desire of others to advance into his place. [96] Philo of Alexandria reports that Caligula became ruthless after nearly dying of an illness in the eighth month of his reign in 37. [115] According to Josephus, these actions led to several failed conspiracies against Caligula. He was crazy both in body and mind, being subject, when a boy, to the falling sickness. The boy was the sixth son in the family, and then Agrippina gave birth to three more daughters. However, the Roman Empire was only as good as the caesar at its heart, and the Romans would soon find out that this could be very, very bad. Late in 37 A.D., Caligula fell ill with some sort of brain fever. Ancient historians state that Caligula began falsely accusing, fining and even killing individuals for the purpose of seizing their estates. When he arrived at the age of manhood he endured fatigue tolerably well.