Caligul Gaius Julius Caesar

Caligula was born as Gaius Julius Caesar, named in honor of his famous and much-beloved relative, in Anzio, Italy, a city just 40 miles south of Rome, on August 31, 12 CE to Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder. He was the third child of the six total, with two older brothers (Nero and Drusus) and three younger sisters (Agrippina the Younger, Julia Drusilla, and Julia Livilla). Through Agrippina the Elder, Gaius’ maternal great-grandfather was Augustus. Germanicus was an extremely successful military general who received his name after conquering Germania for the Roman Empire. During his military campaigns in the north, Germanicus was accompanied by Gaius, who was dressed in a miniature soldier’s outfit, with boots (called caligas) and armour.

Caligula lived on the island and in Tiberius’ mountain home for just over six years. To the surprise of many people, Caligula was spared by Tiberius, and he kept his inner thoughts and resentment toward Tiberius hidden. One observer stated, “Never was there a better servant or a worse master!” Caligula, however, claimed to have planned to kill Tiberius with a dagger in order to avenge his mother and brothers, but he threw it on the floor after entering his bedroom. Tiberius supposedly knew about the plan but did not want to do anything about it. According to Suetonius, a famous Ancient Roman historian, Tiberius brought Caligula to Capri to allow him to live in order to “rear a viper for the Roman people” and that Caligula was already cruel and vicious from before he arrived at the island. In 33 CE, Caligula was appointed as quaestor, an official who managed the financial affairs of the empire, and kept that position until his rise to emperor, and just two years later was named a joint heir to Tiberius’