CALIGULA

From Agepedia

CALIGULA, Caius Csesar Augustus Germanicus, son of Germanicus and Agrippina, was born, A. D. 12, in the camp, probably in Germany, and brought up among the legions. Here he received, from the soldiers, the surname of C, on account of his wearing the caligai, a kind of little boots in use among them. He understood so well how to insinuate him self into the good graces of Tiberius, that he not only escaped the cruel fate of his parents and brothers and sisters, but was even loaded with honors. Whether, as some writers inform us, he removed Ti berms out of the way by slow poison, is uncertain. When the latter was about to die, he appointed, according to Suetonius, G. and the son of Drusus, Tiberius Nero, heirs of the empire. But C., universally beloved for the sake of his father, Germaincus, was able, without difficulty, to obtain sole Tvassession °f me throne. Rome received him joyfully, and the distant provinces echoed his welcome. His first actions, also, were just and noble. He interred, in the most honorable manner, the remains of his mother and of his brother Nero, set free all stateprisoners, recalled the banished, and forbade all prosecutions for treason. He conferred on the magistrates free and independent power. Although the will of Tiberius had been declared, by the senate, to be null and void, he fulfilled every article of it, with the exception only of that abovementioned. When he was chosen consul, he took his uncle Claudius as his colleague. Thus he distinguished the first eight months of his reign by many magnanimous actions, when he fell sick. After his recovery, by a most unexpected alteration, he suddenly showed himself the most cruel and unnatural of tyrants. The most exquisite tortures served him for enjoyments. During his meals, he caused criminals, and even innocent persons, to be stretched on the rack and beheaded : the most respectable persons were daily executed. In the madness of his arrogance, he even considered himself a god, and caused the honors to be paid to him which were paid to Apollo, to Mars, and even to Jupiter. He also showed himself in public with the attributes of Venus and of other goddesses. He built a temple to his own divinity. At one time, he wished that the whole Roman people had but one head, that'he might be able to cut it off at one blow. He frequently repeated the words of an old poet, Oderint dum metuant. One of his greatest follies was the building of a bridge between Baise and Puteoli (Puzzuoli). He himself consecrated this strange structure with great splendor; and, after he had passed the night following in a revel with his friends, in order to do something extraordinary before his departure, he caused a crowd of persons, without distinction of age, rank and character, to be seized, and thrown into the sea. On his return, he entered Rome in triumph, because, as he said, he had conquered nature herself. After this, he made preparations for an expedition against the Germans, passed, with more than 200,000 men, over the Rhine, but returned after he had travelled a few miles, and that without having seen an enemy. Such was his terror, that, when he came to the river, and found the bridge obstructed by the crowd upon it, he caused himself to be passed over the heads of the soldiers; He then went to Gaul, which he plundered with unexampled rapacity. Not content with the considerable booty thus obtained, he sold all the property of both his sisters, Agrippina and Livilla, whom he banished. He also sold the furniture of the old court, the clothes of Marcus Antoninus, of Augustus, Agrippina, &c. Before he left Gaul, he declared his intention of going to Britain. He collected his army on the coast, embarked in a magnificent galley, but returned when he had hardly left the land, drew up his forces, ordered the signal for battle to be sounded, and commanded the soldiers to fill their pockets and helmets with shells, while he cried out, " This booty, ravished from the sea, is fit for my palace and the capitol I" When he returned to Rome, he was desirous of a triumph on account of his achievements, but contented himself with an ovation. Discontented with the senate, he resolved to destroy the greater part of the members, and the most distinguished men of Rome. This is proved by two books, which were found after his death, wherein the names of the proscribed were noted down, and of which one was entitled Gladius (Sword), and the other Pugillus (Dagger). He became reconciled to the senate again when he found it worthy of him. He supported public brothels and gaminghouses, and received himself the entrancemoney of the visitors. His horse, named Incitatus, was his favorite. This animal had a house and a servant, and was fed froin marble and gold. C. had caused him to be admitted into the college of his priests, and was desirous of making him a consul also. He even had the intention of destroying the poems of Horner, and was on the point of removing the works and images of Virgil and Livy from all libraries : those of the former, because he was destitute of genius and learning; those of the latter, because he was not to be depended upon as a historian. C.'s morals were, from his youth upward, corrupt; he had committed incest with all his sisters. After he had married and repudiated several wives, Ceesonia retained a permanent hold on his affections. A number of conspirators, at the head of whom were Chaerea. and Cornelius Sabinus, both tribunes of the pretorian cohorts, murdered him in the 29th year of his life, and the fourth of his tyrannical reign (from A. D. 37 to 41).