Historians describe emperor Caligula's reign in unsettling terms. This was a man who made his horse a consul, who emptied the imperial treasury, imposed a reign of terror, and promoted all kinds of depravity. On top of that, Caligula believed himself to be a living god. Four short years of his reign culminated in a violent and brutal assassination at the hands of his own men.
A fitting end for a mad, bad, and dreadful man. Or is it? Upon a closer examination of the sources, a different picture emerges. Haunted by his tragic past, Caligula ascended the throne as a young, brash, and stubborn boy. His determination to reign as an absolutist oriental ruler brought him into collision with the Roman Senate and ultimately resulted in the emperor’s violent demise. Although his successor, pressed by popular will and the influence of the army, had to punish the perpetrators, Caligula’s name was damned for posterity.
The future ruler of the Roman Empire, Gaius Caesar, was born in 12 CE into the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He was the youngest son of Germanicus, a prominent general and designated heir to his uncle, the emperor Tiberius. His mother was Agrippina, granddaughter of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Young Gaius spent his childhood far from the luxury of the court.
Instead, the little boy followed his father on his campaigns in Northern Germania and in the East. It was there, in the army camp, where the future emperor got his nickname: Caligula. Germanicus was beloved by his troops, and the same attitude extended to his son and successor. As an army mascot, the boy received a miniature uniform, including a pair of hob-nailed sandals, called caliga. (“Caligula” means “little (soldier) boot” (caliga) in Latin). Uncomfortable with the moniker, the emperor later adopted the name shared with a famous ancestor, Gaius Julius Caesar.
Caligula's youth was cut short by the death of his father in 19 CE. Germanicus died believing he was poisoned by his relative, the emperor Tiberius. If not involved in the murder of his father, Tiberius played a role in the violent end of Caligula’s mother and his brothers. Too young to present a challenge to the increasingly paranoid emperor, Caligula avoided the grim fate of his relatives.
Shortly after the death of his family, Caligula was brought to Tiberius’ villa in Capri as a hostage. According to Suetonius, those years spent on Capri were stressful for Caligula. The boy was under constant observation, and the smallest hint of disloyalty could spell his doom. But the aging Tiberius was in need of an heir, and Caligula was one of the few surviving dynastic members.
Following the death of Tiberius on 17th March 37 CE, Caligula became the emperor. He was only 24 years old. It might come as a surprise, but the beginning of Caligula’s reign was auspicious. The citizens of Rome gave the young monarch a wonderful reception. Philo of Alexandria described Caligula as the first emperor who was admired by everyone in “all the world, from the rising to the setting sun.”
The incredible popularity could be explained by Caligula being the son of beloved Germanicus. Further, the young, ambitious emperor stood in stark contrast to the loathed old reclusive Tiberius. Caligula recognized the importance of strong popular support. The emperor ended treason trials instituted by Tiberius, offered amnesty to the exiled, and abolished unfair taxes. To solidify his good reputation among the populus, Caligula organized lavish gladiatorial games and chariot races.