UMBC_HIST456_Gaius_sp2013

GaiusC a l i g u l a , S o n o f

G e r m a n i c u s , M a d m a n ?

Saturday, March 2, 13

Gaius ‘Caligula’Tiberius, dead in 37 CE

Gaius, last living son of Agrippina and Germanicus

7 years on Capri

elevated to the throne with few complications

he was just about 25

Saturday, March 2, 13

The Hereditary Principle

Gaius is head of the state

Tiberius’ will

Germanicus’ name

blood tie to Augustus through his mother

Saturday, March 2, 13

Only One Heir

Tiberius Gemellus, also Tiberius’ grandson

dead within a year of Gaius’ accession to the throne

Saturday, March 2, 13

Loyalty of the Legions

Germanicus’ soldiers

Gaius is popular

Gaius is unknown

never commanded troops

Saturday, March 2, 13

Gaius’ Officespontifex in 31 CE (not to be confused with pontifex maximus)

quaestor in 33 CE

No other offices

Never a consul, no tribunicia potestas

a real monarchy now...blood was chief

Saturday, March 2, 13

Spend the MoneyGaius spent liberally

new buildings, repaired buildings

gifts to the army

gifts to the people

many games, chariot races, gladiatorial combats

Saturday, March 2, 13

Familia CaesarisGaius was a direct descendant of Julius Caesar

legitimacy in the purity of his heritage

he had no offices to rely upon, so he chose to focus on his ‘genetic’ legacy

Saturday, March 2, 13

Games as Site of Popular Expression

“I wish they had only one neck.”

Suetonius, Gaius 30

Saturday, March 2, 13

From Princeps to Monstrum

Suetonian account has Gaius go mad...

We lack Tacitus’ survey, and the pieces preserved in Cassius Dio are considerably limited.

Gaius, convinced of personal divinity

Gaius demanded worship

Saturday, March 2, 13

Caligula and his Sisters

Saturday, March 2, 13

Removing an Emperor is Difficult?

Loyalty of the legions did much to protect the imperial monarch.

Gaius at war.

successful Rhine assault in CE 39

less successful attempt on Britain

“seashells” (see Suet. Gaius 46)

Saturday, March 2, 13

Money doesn’t grow on Roman trees

Gaius’ spending a problem.

Coffers left full by Tiberius diminished.

Lack of money - severe difficulties in paying, maintaining soldiers, war effort

Saturday, March 2, 13

Mauretania, 40 CE

Saturday, March 2, 13

ConspiracyCE 39

Lentulus Gaetulicus

commander of Upper Germany

replace Gaius with Marcus Lepidus, husband of Drusilla

conspiracy revealed before it could act

conspirators executed

Saturday, March 2, 13

DeathCE 41

Cassius Chaerea, junior officer of the Praetorian Guard

insulted by Gaius

decides to take matters into his own hands

small group of assassins

NOT legionary forces

NOT familial intrigue

killed Gaius as he left the games

Saturday, March 2, 13

StabilityRome has NO monarch.

Gaius left no heirs.

He had barely begun his reign, let alone had the opportunity to choose potential successors.

Eyes turned to the members of the Julio-Claudian family that remained.

The Praetorians, in particular, afraid of losing their vaunted position, decided to enact their own choice: Claudius, brother of Germanicus, uncle of Gaius.

Saturday, March 2, 13

Saturday, March 2, 13