Caligula

Gaius Julias Caesar Germanicus (ca. CE 12-41) Roman emperor (CE 37-41) known as Caligula. Son of Germanicus Caesar, nephew and the adoptive son of Tiberius, and Agrippina the Elder. Caligula, meaning "little boots", was a nickname given to him as a child by soldiers of the Rhine army commanded by his father Germanicus Caesar (nephew of Tiberius). He succeeded Tiberius as emperor. Taken seriously ill late in 37, about seven months after his ascension, his life took a dramatic turn toward despotism and tyranny. Doubtlessly insane he discharged his office with with extreme cruelty and wild abandon. he delighted in bloodshed, butchery, and torture.

Caligula developed pretensions of divinity. On becoming convinced he was a god he demanded to be worshipped. Moreover, he held the Jews in contempt. He insulted the scholar Philo Judaeus, also known Philo of Alexandria (considered by some as "the Jewish Plato"), and the Jewish delegation from Alexandra who came to Rome to plead with Caligula not to demand divine honors from Jews. On learning of disturbances in Palestine occurring in the winter of CE 39, he ordered in the summer of 41, but later abandoned, the erection of his statue in the Temple at Jerusalem.

Cassius Chaerea, a tribune of the Praetorian guard whom he insulted, murdered him on January 24, 41 at the Palatine games.

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Page last updated: 02/05/01 05:26:24 AM.