CALIGULA, Gains Caesar Augustus Ger manicus, Roman Emperor, a son of Germanicus and Agrippina : b. 31 Aug. 12 A.D., in the camp at Annum, and brought up among the legions; d. 24 Jan. 41 A.D. He received from soldiers the surname of Caligula, on account of his wearing the caligte, the boots commonly used by the soldiers. He understood so well how to insinuate himself into the good graces of Tibe rius that he not only escaped the cruel fate of his parents, and brothers, and sisters, but was even loaded with honors. Whether, as some writers inform us, he removed Tiberius out of the way by slow poison is uncertain. When the latter was about to die he appointed, ac cording to Suetonius, Caligula and the son of Drusus, Tiberius Nero, heirs of the empire. But Caligula, universally beloved for the sake of his father, Germanicus, was able without difficulty to obtain sole possession of the throne. Rome received him joyfully, and the distant provinces echoed his welcome. His first actions were just and noble. He interred, in the most honorable manner, the remains of his mother and of his brother Nero, set free all state prisoners, recalled the banished and forbade all prosecutions for treason. He con ferred on the magistrates free and independent power. Although the will of Tiberius had been declared by the Senate to be null and void, he fulfilled every article of it, with the exception only of that above mentioned. When he was chosen consul he took his uncle, Claudius, as his colleague. Thus he distinguished the first eight months of his reign by many magnani mous actions, when he fell sick. After his recovery, by a most unexpected alteration, which has given good grounds to suspect his sanity, he suddenly showed himself the most cruel and unnatural of tyrants. The most ex quisite tortures served him for enjoyment. During his meals he caused criminals, and even innocent persons, to be stretched on the rack and beheaded; the most respectable persons were daily executed. In the madness of his arrogance he even considered himself a god, and caused the honors to be paid to him which were paid to Apollo, to Mars, and even to Jupiter. He also showed himself in public with the attributes of Venus and of other goddesses. He built a temple to his own divin ity. At one time he wished that the whole Roman people had but one head, that he might be able to cut it off at one blow. He fre quently repeated the words of an old poet, Oderint dum metuant them hate so long as they fear.° He squandered the public money with almost incredible prodigality. One of his greatest follies was the building of a bridge between Balm and Puteoli (Puzzuoli), in order that he might be able to boast of marching over the sea on dry land. He had it covered
with earth, and houses built on it, and then rode over it in triumph. He gave a banquet in the middle of the bridge, and to celebrate this great achievement ordered numbers of the spectators whom he had invited to be thrown into the sea. On his return, he entered Rome in triumph, because, as he said, he had con quered nature herself. After this, he made preparations for an expedition against the Ger mans, passed with more than 200,000 men over the Rhine, but returned after he had traveled a few miles, and that without having seen an enemy. Such was his terror, that, when he came to the river, and found the bridge ob structed by the crowd upon it, he caused him self to be passed over the heads of the soldiers. He then went to Gaul, which he plundered with unexampled rapacity. Not content with the considerable booty thus obtained, he sold all the property of both his sisters, Agrippina and Livilla, whom he banished. He also sold the furniture of the old court, the clothes of Marcus Antonius, of Augustus, Agrippina, etc. Before he left Gaul, he declared his in tention of going to Britain. He collected his army on the coast, embarked in a magnificent galley, but returned when he had hardly left the land, drew up his forces, ordered the signal for battle to be sounded, and commanded the soldiers to fill their pockets and helmets with shells, while he cried out, ((This booty, ravished from the sea, is fit for my palace and the capitol P When he returned to Rome, he was desirous of a triumph on account of his achievements. but contented himself with an ovation. Discontented with the Senate, he resolved to destroy the greater part of the members, and the most distinguished men of Rome. This is proved by two books which were found after his death, wherein the names of the proscribed were noted down, and of which one was entitled Gladius (Sword), and the other Pugillus (Dagger). He became rec onciled to the Senate again when he found it worthy of him. Caligula's morals were, from his youth upward, corrupt. After he had mar ried and repudiated several wives, Cmsonia re tained a permanent hold on his affections. A number of conspirators, at the head of whom were Chmrea and Cornelius Sabinus, both tribunes of the praetorian cohorts, murdered him in the 29th year of his age, and the fourth of his tyrannical reign, which thus lasted from 37 to 41 A.D. Consult Baring-Gould, The Tragedy of the Cmsars) (London 1892).