Caligua Roman Empire - Essay Example

While most likely not intended to last a lifetime, the name stuck and most of history remembers him under this name. His reign only lasted from 37 to 41 A.D., ending bloody as many of the reigns of Emperors of Rome would end. For most of Caligula’s young life, he was not in Rome. He spent his time on the campaigns of his father, his childhood outside of the socialization of the center of his homeland’s culture. In addition, his father, according to writings by the historian Tacitus, was well known for disobeying orders from Tiberius, delaying his return to Rome and taking his army where he desired, thus instilling in Caligula an “apparent disregard for prioritizing State interests over personal ones”, a point that became clearly a part of Caligula’s reign (Adams 34).

Germanicus’ predilection towards the Hellenistic culture also influenced the young Caligula, many of those aesthetics appearing during his reign. Hellenistic culture was a fusion of Greek, Middle Eastern and Eastern cultures which was sometimes interpreted for its decadence, as much as for its classical philosophies, as described by Green as being “bourgeois, decadent, and materialistic (7). Germanicus was popular, however, and when he died in 19 A.D. there was an enormous amount of grief among the Roman citizens (Adams 98).

Caligula returned home to Rome with his mother and siblings after the death of his father. While the time of his youth does not specifically suggest that he was intended to be the heir of Tiberius, his later experiences before the death of the Emperor make it clear that he was then considered his heir. During his teen years, Caligula bore witness to a plot by praetorian Sejanus in which his mother and elder brothers were arrested and eventually killed. Caligula, now in line for leading the empire, did not fall under Sejanus as the plot was uncovered and he was arrested and put to death by Tiberius in 31 A.

D (Burns 53). Shortly after, Caligula was made the official heir of Tiberius and would ascend to wear the laurels at a very young age. Caligula became emperor of Rome on 18 March 37 AD at the age of twenty-four. At first his reign seemed like a break from the austere and conservative reign of Tiberius, but soon the senate became unhappy with his excesses. In the first year of his reign, Caligula put an end to the paranoia of the trials of treason and the public executions quieted for a time. Tiberius had been a dark and troubled ruler in his later years, creating an atmosphere of fear and treachery.

However, from what ever cause, Caligula was falling into deeper and darker madness which manifested in all kinds of debaucheries and blood sport. He had his two greatest supporters, the praetorian prefect Macro who had helped him in holding his inheritance as Emperor and another great supporter, Tiberius Gemellus put to death (Adams 152). His excesses fell into categories of shameful behavior, some of which have been highly influential in characterizing ancient Rome as a time of great debauchery.

It is said that he had incestuous relationships with his sisters, having a great love affair with his sister Drusilla who is thought to have been his true love. While he exiled two of his sisters on islands, Drusilla was made his heir (Tinsley 245). It is also hinted at that he had made part of his palace