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. After this, the sources focus upon his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion, presenting him as an insane tyrant. 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. Following the former's death in 37, Caligula succeeded him as emperor. In 26, Tiberius withdrew from public life to the island of Capri, and in 31, Caligula joined him there. The conflict eventually led to the destruction of her family, with Caligula as the sole male survivor. 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, Germanicus' uncle. Caligula was born into the first ruling family of the Roman Empire, conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty.Īlthough Gaius was named after Gaius Julius Caesar, he acquired the nickname 'Caligula' ('little boot'), the diminutive form of caligae, a military boot, from his father's soldiers during their campaign in Germania. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, Augustus' granddaughter. Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula ( / k ə ˈ l ɪ ɡ j ʊ l ə/), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41.

Viva caligula hell