Caligula

Also known as: Caius Caesar / Caius by Germanicus · Family: Julio-Claudian · Role: grandson of Tiberius · First appears: Tiberius 54

Caligula, also known as Caius Caesar, was a Julio-Claudian and the grandson of Tiberius. He was the son of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, and one of their surviving children alongside Drusilla, Livilla, Nero Caesar, and Drusus Caesar. Born at Antium, he was raised among soldiers in the dress of a common soldier, whose jokes gave him the name Caligula; his appearance later helped calm their mutiny. After living with Livia Augusta, he was transferred to the household of his grandmother Antonia, and at twenty was summoned by Tiberius to Capri, where he assumed the manly habit and shaved his beard.

Tiberius adopted him on Augustus’s orders, though he was also jealous of Caius and hated Tiberius. Caligula married Junia Claudilla and became involved with Ennia Naevia, promising to marry her if he became emperor and gaining the favour of Macro through her. After securing the imperial power, he set aside Tiberius’s will, buried him with great ceremony, restored the ashes of Germanicus and Nero Caesar, honoured Antonia, made Claudius his colleague in the consulship, and adopted his brother Tiberius, giving him the title “Prince of the Youths.” Artabanus also sought his friendship, while Caligula restored the kingdom of Antiochus of Comagene.

His rule moved from public distributions, spectacles, building works, and restored kingdoms to executions, confiscations, and new taxes. He forced Silanus to kill himself, spared Claudius only as a laughing-stock, condemned Drusilla and his other sisters in the case of Aemilius Lepidus, and treated Drusilla as his wife, later naming her heir to his estate and the empire. He divorced Livia Orestilla and Lollia Paulina, then made Caesonia his wife after the birth of their daughter Julia Drusilla; he also publicly favoured Mnester, threatened Caesonia with torture, and ordered Macro, Ennia, and Ptolemy to violent deaths. He spent the treasury amassed by Tiberius in less than a year before plundering the people through accusations, confiscations, and taxation.

Caligula assembled forces for an expedition into Germany, received the submission of Adminius, staged false victories, and ordered his soldiers to gather seashells as “the spoils of the ocean due to the Capitol and the Palatium.” After returning, he threatened the senate and planned further executions; within four months, a conspiracy led by Cassius Chaerea attacked him, and Cornelius Sabinus also struck him down. His sisters later disinterred, cremated, and buried his body.