Historical Background
- Reign: Caligula, officially known as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, was the Roman Emperor from 37 AD until his assassination in 41 AD.
- Succession: He succeeded Emperor Tiberius, and his early reign was marked by popularity due to his youthful energy and generosity.
38 AD: A severe illness marks a turning point. Historians debate if this caused a mental break or simply hardened his autocratic tendencies.
Here's what you should know:
Whatever the truth, Caligula remains the ultimate symbol of what happens when power has no boundaries and the "index" of a leader's whims becomes the law of the land.
By 41 AD, the index of grievances held by the Praetorian Guard and the Senate became too long to ignore. Caligula was stabbed to death in a corridor of the Palatine Hill, his wife and daughter murdered shortly after.
