Caligula

Caligula married Junia Claudilla in 33 AD. However, the marriage was a brief affair as Claudilla died the following year during childbirth. He then married Caesonia, and killed their young daughter, Julia Drusilla.

During his reign, he is said to have slept with wives of many men. He was also accused of forcefully prostituting his sisters to other men. Caligula allegedly turned the palace into a brothel.

His aggressive reign earned him many enemies who constantly plotted his death but failed each time. The conspiracy of his death planned by officers within the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea finally turned successful.

Caligula was born as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus on August 31, 12 AD to Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, in Antium, Italy. He was the third of the six surviving children of the couple.

Young Gaius accompanied his father on campaigns in north of Germania. Dressed in proper soldier attire complete with boots and armour, he earned the nickname Caligula— meaning "little (soldier's) boot"—that stayed with him till the end.

After the death of his father, Tiberius took over the throne. Caligula stayed with his mother, great grandmother and later grandmother before being remanded under the personal care of Tiberius.

In 33 AD, Caligula was proffered with an honorary quaestorship, a position he retained until his rise as an Emperor. Two years later, he was named joint heir to Tiberius's estate, sharing it with Tiberius’s grandson Gemellus.

Following Tiberius’ death in 37 AD, Caligula and Gemellus served as joint heirs. However, Caligula nullified Tiberius’ will, proving Gemellus as insane, and thus took over as the Emperor.

Caligula’s appointment as Emperor and his return to Rome was marked with extreme joy, celebration and ecstasy. The Romans welcomed ‘their baby’ with open arms.

His reign as an Emperor commenced on a good note. He started off by granting bonus to military men and city troops. Subsequently, he recalled exiled people by nullifying Tiberius’ treason papers. He even banished certain sexual deviants and helped people affected by the imperial tax system.

Caligula’s illness in October 37 AD acted as a catalyst for the turn of his reign. From being a benevolent Emperor, he soon turned into a ruthless leader. Once critical of exile, he started banishing people and even killing those he found to be serious threat. He executed his close relatives including his brothers and adopted son and exiled others.

Following the death/ exile of his close relatives, Caligula focussed his attention on political and public reforms. Unlike Tiberius, he publicized accounts of public funds. He abolished certain taxes and inducted new members in the senatorial order. The most significant of his reform came when he introduced democratic elections.

Caligula, during his reign, supervised ambitious construction projects. He oversaw the construction of various temples, built new roads and channels, expanded the palace and got constructed two large ships which went on to become the largest vessels of the ancient world

Caligula supervised abolishment of certain taxes, and aided those harmed by natural calamities. He restored the practice of democratic elections. He also expanded the Roman Empire by annexing Mauretania.