Rome’s worst emperors

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born in Rome in August of 31 AD. His father was Germanicus and his mother was Agrippina, the eldest sister. His uncle, the brother of his father was Tiberius, was also Caligula’s predecessor. Caligula married 4 women; Junia Claudilla, Livia Orestilla, Caesonia, and Lollia Paulina, and had one child; Julia Drusilla. Caligula was a nickname given to him that stayed with him for the rest of his life. While he was staying with his parents on the German frontier, a group of soldiers gave him the nickname Caligula (literal term caligae) which means ‘little sandals’ for the miniature military sandals he wore.

When Caligula first came into power in 37 AD, he was a great emperor. He recalled many exiles, he abolished many different taxes, and gave gifts to the citizens of Rome. Although after eight months, he became extremely ill. In his mind he saw himself as a failure and injured for the rest of his life. He then turned to evil and cruelty. He declared himself dictator and a god, and even walked the streets dressed as gods such as Bacchus, Apollo, and Venus.

Caligula gave power to all the wealthy people of Rome, he made them his priests. He was crazy enough to give consulship to his favorite horse. All Caligula wanted was money. After taking all the money from Rome and most of Italy, he took a large army to take over a city called Gaul, where he put the wealthiest citizens to death and there money and property confiscated. He even was accused of killing people in order to take there money and property to sell because he tried to make the citizens of Rome worship him by buying them gifts which exhausted the treasury. He glorified himself and ordered statues and buildings after him.

Caligula, due to his crave for money and his narcissism, Caligula was assassinated in January of 41 AD by his own Praetorian Guard because he had made a ridicule of the military and separated the leaders of the Guard. Caligula’s wife, Caesonia, and his daughter, Julia Drusilla, were also murdered. Marco, a subsequent prefect who had helped him into power, was also part of the assassination group. His Praetorian Guard also chose his successor, Claudius, Caligula’s other uncle.

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