Caligula, Historians and Truth
When I got this Hourly History e-book on two Roman emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Caligula , I expected the part on the former to be interesting. Boy, was I wrong. Caligula was the third Roman emperor. In the first 6 months, here’s what he did: “Caligula restored voting rights, distributed bread and gifts, and hosted games and theatricals for the people’s entertainment…. (He) built two aquaducts… He restored vassal kings to their thrones… He annulled unpopular taxes and gave magistrates the right to make decisions without consulting him.” In short, “Caligula was the very image of a good and benevolent ruler”. Then in 37 A.D., he fell very ill, including a swelling of the brain and/or epilepsy. When he finally emerged, he was a “very changed man”. He was convinced he had been poisoned, and ordered his co-regent to be murdered without trial. He began to have incestuous relationships with two of his sisters. He declared himself to be not just the “Greatest and Best Caesar”, ...