Caligula

Caligula (kəlĭg`ylə), A.D. 12–A.D. 41, Roman emperor (A.D. 37–A.D. 41); son of Germanicus Caesar and Agrippina the Elder. His real name was Caius Caesar Germanicus. As a small child, he wore military boots, whence his nickname [caligula=little boot]. On the death of Tiberius the army helped make Caligula emperor. Shortly afterward he became severely ill; it is widely believed that he was thereafter insane. He earned a reputation for ruthless and cruel autocracy, and torture and execution became the order of the day. He was responsible for serious disturbances among the Jews, and he nearly caused a rebellion in Palestine by attempting to erect a statue of himself in their temple. He was assassinated by a tribune of the Praetorian Guard and succeeded by Claudius I.

Bibliography

See J. P. V. D. Balsdon, The Emperor Gaius (1934), and A. A. Barrett, Caligula: The Corruption of Power (1996).

---

Caligula

 officially Gaius Caesar (Germanicus)

(born Aug. 31, AD 12, Antium, Latium—died Jan. 24, 41, Rome) Roman emperor (37–41). Known by his childhood nickname, Caligula (“Little Boot”) was declared heir to the throne by Tiberius following the suspicious deaths of Caligula's parents and brothers and probably connived in Tiberius's death. Caligula suffered a severe illness seven months into his rule and began displaying mental instability, engaging in despotic caprice and cruelty. Restoring treason trials (38), he executed former supporters and extorted money from the citizens. He plundered Gaul in 40 and began planning to invade Britain. He made pretensions to divinity and declared his sister Drusilla a goddess on her death. Weary of his tyranny, a group of conspirators assassinated him.

---

Caligula

(12–41) Roman emperor known for terror and cruel autocracy. [Rom. Hist.: NCE, 425]

See : Ruthlessness