What (who) is caligula - definition
![Roman [[sestertius]] depicting Caligula, ''c.'' AD 38. The reverse shows Caligula's three sisters, Agrippina, Drusilla and Julia Livilla, with whom Caligula was rumoured to have carried on incestuous relationships. Caption: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANICVS PON. M. TR. POT. / AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S. C.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Caligula sestertius RIC 33 680999.jpg?width=200 "Roman [[sestertius]] depicting Caligula, ''c.'' AD 38. The reverse shows Caligula's three sisters, Agrippina, Drusilla and Julia Livilla, with whom Caligula was rumoured to have carried on incestuous relationships. Caption: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANICVS PON. M. TR. POT. / AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S. C.")
![Fanciful [[Renaissance]] depiction of Caligula](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Cor-aabr001903.jpg?width=200 "Fanciful [[Renaissance]] depiction of Caligula")
![''Caligula Depositing the Ashes of his Mother and Brother in the Tomb of his Ancestors'', by [[Eustache Le Sueur]], 1647.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Eustache Le Sueur - Caligula Depositing the Ashes of his Mother and Brother in the Tomb of his Ancestors - WGA12607.jpg?width=200 "''Caligula Depositing the Ashes of his Mother and Brother in the Tomb of his Ancestors'', by [[Eustache Le Sueur]], 1647.")
![bust]] of Caligula with traces of original paint beside a [[plaster]] [[replica]] trying to recreate the [[polychrome]] traditions of ancient sculpture](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Kejser Caligula (IN 2687).jpg?width=200 "bust]] of Caligula with traces of original paint beside a [[plaster]] [[replica]] trying to recreate the [[polychrome]] traditions of ancient sculpture")
![Roma]], a personification of [[Rome]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna June 2006 038.jpg?width=200 "Roma]], a personification of [[Rome]]")
![The [[Vatican Obelisk]] was first brought from Egypt to Rome by Caligula. It was the centerpiece of a large racetrack he built.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Obelisque Saint Peter's square Vatican City.jpg?width=200 "The [[Vatican Obelisk]] was first brought from Egypt to Rome by Caligula. It was the centerpiece of a large racetrack he built.")
![Pileus]] which symbolizes the liberation of the people from the tax burden. Caption: C. CAESAR DIVI AVG. PRON[EPOS] (great-grandson of) AVG. / PON. M., TR. P. III, P. P., COS. DES. RCC. (probably Res Civium Conservatae, i.e. the interests of citizens have been preserved)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/RIC 0039.jpg?width=200 "Pileus]] which symbolizes the liberation of the people from the tax burden. Caption: C. CAESAR DIVI AVG. PRON[EPOS] (great-grandson of) AVG. / PON. M., TR. P. III, P. P., COS. DES. RCC. (probably Res Civium Conservatae, i.e. the interests of citizens have been preserved)")
![''The Assassination of the Emperor Caligula'', by [[Lazzaro Baldi]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/The Assassination of the Emperor Caligula.jpg?width=200 "''The Assassination of the Emperor Caligula'', by [[Lazzaro Baldi]]")
Check out Bizarro with the powered-up chainsaw. He's caligula.
Wikipedia
Caligula (; 31 August 12 – 24 January 41), formally known as Gaius (Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, Augustus' granddaughter. Caligula was born into the first ruling family of the Roman Empire, conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Although Gaius was named after Gaius Julius Caesar, he acquired the nickname "Caligula" ("little caliga", a type of military boot) from his father's soldiers during their campaign in Germania. When Germanicus died at Antioch in 19, Agrippina returned with her six children to Rome, where she became entangled in a bitter feud with Tiberius. The conflict eventually led to the destruction of her family, with Caligula as the sole male survivor. In 26, Tiberius withdrew from public life to the island of Capri, and in 31, Caligula joined him there. Following the former's death in 37, Caligula succeeded him as emperor. There are few surviving sources about the reign of Caligula, though he is described as a noble and moderate emperor during the first six months of his rule. After this, the sources focus upon his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion, presenting him as an insane tyrant.
While the reliability of these sources is questionable, it is known that during his brief reign, Caligula worked to increase the unconstrained personal power of the emperor, as opposed to countervailing powers within the principate. He directed much of his attention to ambitious construction projects and luxurious dwellings for himself, and he initiated the construction of two aqueducts in Rome: the Aqua Claudia and the Anio Novus. During his reign, the empire annexed the client kingdom of Mauretania as a province. In early 41, Caligula was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers. However, the conspirators' attempt to use the opportunity to restore the Roman Republic was thwarted. On the day of the assassination of Caligula, the Praetorians declared Caligula's uncle, Claudius, as the next emperor. Caligula's death marked the official end of the Julii Caesares in the male line, though the Julio-Claudian dynasty continued to rule until the demise of his nephew, Nero.
