Caligula - The Mad Emperor? Documentary
The People Profiles・45 minutes read
Emperor Caligula's rise to power, reign, and eventual assassination showcased a tumultuous period of political intrigue, power struggles, and manipulation within the Roman Empire, challenging traditional views of his rule as solely tyrannical and mad. Despite accusations of economic ruin and incest, modern interpretations suggest a more nuanced view of Caligula's reign, highlighting his early successes and calculated efforts to consolidate power and diminish the influence of the Senate.
Insights
- Caligula's rise to power involved navigating family tragedies, early military successes, and political maneuvers, ultimately culminating in his controversial reign as emperor.
- Caligula's reign was marked by a complex interplay of political intrigue, shifting alliances, and escalating tensions with the senate, highlighting his strategic approach to consolidating power and asserting dominance.
- Caligula's rule, characterized by a mix of public projects, economic stability, and brutal reprisals against perceived threats, challenges simplistic portrayals of his reign as solely tyrannical, underscoring the nuanced nature of his leadership and the historical biases that have shaped his legacy.
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Recent questions
Who was Emperor Caligula's father?
Germanicus
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Summary
00:00
Emperor Caligula: Rise to Power and Rule
- Emperor Caligula was born on August 31, 12 AD in Antium, Italy to Germanicus and Agrippina the elder.
- Germanicus, a popular military leader, was born in 15 BC and held the consulship twice before his death in 19 AD.
- Agrippina the elder, born in 14 BC, was married to Germanicus and had nine children, with only four surviving her.
- Caligula, initially named Gaius, was sent to join Germanicus in Germany in 14 AD, where he earned the nickname "Caligula" or "little boots."
- Caligula helped quell a mutiny among the legions in 14 AD, showcasing his early influence.
- In 17 AD, Caligula rode in his father's triumphal procession in Rome, signifying his growing prominence.
- Caligula's family faced exile and imprisonment under Tiberius, leading to Caligula's move to live with his grandmother Antonia.
- Caligula's marriage to Junia Claudilla in 36 AD ended quickly due to her death in childbirth.
- Tiberius's will in 35 AD left the succession open between Caligula and Gemellus, hinting at a joint rule.
- Caligula became emperor in 37 AD after Tiberius's death, with the senate confirming his power and rejecting Tiberius's will.
13:57
Political Intrigue and Power Struggles in Rome
- Coins minted to honor Nero and Drusus, with statues displayed in the city.
- Decree for Agrippina's image in processions and games in her honor annually.
- Antonia granted Augusta title, sisters made honorary Vestal Virgins.
- Claudius allowed political involvement, Gemellus adopted as Caligula's heir.
- Julius Agrippa released, granted territories of Trachonitis, Gaulanitus, and Batanea.
- Antiochus regained Commagene territory, previously a province under Tiberius.
- Caligula's first consulship on July 1, 37 AD, with lavish games and temple dedication.
- Caligula's illness in September or October 37 AD, causing concern in Rome.
- Caligula favored Drusilla, leading to her husband's potential succession.
- Caligula's actions against Gemellus, Silanus, and Macro, including suicides and appointments.
27:42
Caligula's Reign: Intrigue, Exile, and Power
- Unrest between Greeks and Jews in Alexandria diffused after the removal of the governor, Flaccus, who was condemned to exile with his property confiscated.
- Caligula began his second consulship on January 1st, 39 AD, alongside Lucius Apronius Caesianus, but resigned after only thirty days, replaced by Sanquinius Maximus.
- A conspiracy against Caligula involving former consuls was discovered in 39 AD, leading to trials and condemnations under maiestas, with some senators facing corruption charges.
- Caligula addressed the senate, blaming them for the deaths during the maiestas trials, revealing information from supposedly burnt documents and reinstating the trials.
- Caligula exploited aristocratic "friendship," forcing will changes to name him instead of Tiberius, giving and receiving large gifts, and manipulating gladiator auctions.
- Caligula's infamous act of wanting to make his horse a consul was seen as a joke at the senate's expense, showcasing his power to appoint officials.
- Caligula divorced his wife Lollia, citing infertility, and married Milonia Caesonia, who gave birth to Julia Drusilla, leading to financial demands from the aristocracy.
- Planning for a German campaign was underway, but a plot against Caligula involving Lepidus, his sisters, and others was uncovered, leading to executions and exiles.
- Caligula reorganized the military, rewarding loyalty and punishing laxity, with Galba and Publius Gabinius Secundus taking key roles in restoring Roman military effectiveness.
- Caligula's campaign towards Britain saw conflicting accounts of his intentions, with suggestions of a military procession or a mutiny by the legions, leading to the collection of seashells as part of the victory celebrations.
41:42
Caligula's Reign: Betrayal, Chaos, and Assassination
- Caligula's feelings towards the senate worsened after a foiled conspiracy, leading him to forbid the senate from meeting him upon his return to Rome.
- Caligula changed his inner circle, favoring his wife, Praetorian prefects, and freedmen over senators, causing further rifts.
- Caligula met with client king Ptolemy of Mauretania on his way to Rome, leading to Ptolemy's arrest, imprisonment, and execution in Rome.
- Caligula staged a triumphant return to Rome by crossing a bridge of cargo ships from Puteoli to Bauli, wearing Alexander the Great's breastplate.
- Caligula's return celebration on the bridge turned chaotic, with people thrown into the water and the bridge partially sunk.
- Caligula returned to Rome on August 31, 40 AD, initiating trials and executions, including that of stoic philosopher Julius Canus.
- Caligula faced multiple conspiracies, leading to executions and trials within the aristocracy, with some individuals being spared.
- Caligula exploited fear in the senate, leading to further bloodshed and humiliation of senators, including offering his hand or foot for kissing.
- Caligula announced the imperial cult and a statue of himself in the temple of Jerusalem, possibly as a tactic to humiliate the senate.
- Caligula's distrust grew among his inner circle, leading to a plot by praetorian tribunes Chaerea and Sabinus to assassinate him, resulting in his death on January 24.
55:32
Caligula: Misunderstood Emperor or Ruthless Tyrant?
- After a failed conspiracy, Caligula executed all the assassins except Sabinus who committed suicide, challenging the traditional view of him as a mad and tyrannical emperor by modern historians who suggest biased accounts painted him unfairly.
- Despite accusations of bankrupting the empire and engaging in incest with his sisters, modern examinations reveal Caligula promoted sound economic policies and the incest claims were likely slander, with his reign starting positively with public building projects and pardoning victims of maiestas trials.
- Initially popular, Caligula's relationship with the senate soured after discovering conspiracies, leading to public humiliations and a shift towards ruling without their input, showcasing a calculated effort to diminish their power and assert his authority.
