Caligula

Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus in AD 12 at Antium, was the third Roman emperor, ruling from AD 37 to 41. He was the son of the general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder and was given the nickname Caligula, meaning little boot, by his father’s soldiers. After the death of Tiberius, he was proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard in AD 37.

His early reign was met with some public support, and he initially appeared to ease the excesses of Tiberius’ regime. Over time, however, Caligula’s rule became infamous for alleged cruelty, fiscal strain, and unpredictable behavior. Ancient sources describe executions and exile of rivals, heavy taxation, and extravagance in building projects. They also recount extravagant demands on the Senate and provinces, public spectacles, and strained relations with the political elite.

Some accounts claim he proclaimed himself a god and demanded worship, and stories such as appointing his horse Incitatus to the consulship are widely cited, though their accuracy is debated by modern historians. The reliability of surviving sources (notably Suetonius and Cassius Dio) is disputed, and some scholars argue that illness, paranoia, or propaganda may have shaped the portrayal of his reign.

Caligula was assassinated in AD 41 by members of the Praetorian Guard. His wife Caesonia and their young daughter were killed in the aftermath. He was succeeded by his uncle Claudius, and Caligula’s reputation as a tyrannical and erratic ruler endured in later historical writing.