Caligula in Roman Biography

Ca-lig'u-la, (Caius C*sar,) a Roman emperor, bom in 12 A.D., was the son of Germanicus and Agrippina, who was a granddaughter of the emperor Augustus. His childhood and youth were passed among the soldiers, with whom he became a favourite. By deep dissimulation he escaped from being a victim to the suspicion of Tiberius, who was the uncle of Germanicus and had adopted the latter as his heir. At the age of twenty-five Caligula succeeded Tiberius, with a general expression of popular favour. The first acts of his reign gave promise of clemency and moderation, by liberating prisoners of state, recalling exiles, etc. Before many months had ejapsed, he became a monster of cruelty, and indulged his vicious passions and appetites to the greatest excess. 1 le caused a temple to be erected to himself, and claimed divine honours. It is said that he wished the Roman people had but one head, that he might decapitate them at a single blow. A conspiracy was formed against him by Cassius Chaerea, who assassinated him in the year 41, whereupon his uncle Claudius became his successor. See Suetonius, "Lives of the Twelve Caesars;" Tacitus, "Annales;" Dion Cassiuc, "History of Rome."