Caligula

Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus (August 31, 12 – January 24, 41), most commonly known as Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and third member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 37 to 41. Caligula represents a turning point in the early history of the Principate. Known for his extremely extravagant, eccentric and sometimes cruel despotism, he was assassinated in AD 41 by several of his own guards.

Related Topics:
August 31 - 12 - January 24 - 41 - Roman Emperor - Julio-Claudian dynasty - AD 37 - Eccentric - Despotism - Assassin

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Unfortunately, his is the most poorly documented reign of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The literary sources for these four years are meager, frequently anecdotal, and universally hostile. As a result, not only are many of the events of the reign unclear, but Caligula himself appears more as a caricature than a real person; a crazed megalomaniac given to capricious cruelty and harebrained schemes. For example, he appointed his favorite horse as consul. Caligula was a master of incest having sexual relations with all three of his maternal sisters and even had a conceived fetus aborted from his eldest sister, who died following the gruesome operation.

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