Difference between revisions of "Caligula"

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*This page is edited by Samuele Rocca, Israel
#REDIRECT [[:Category:Caligula (subject)]]
*ANCIENT SOURCES: see [[Caligula (sources)]]
*SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see [[Caligula (works)]]
 
 
 
 
===Early Career===
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, nicknamed Caligula (12-41 CE). Gaius Caesar Caligula was born in 12 CE at Antium. He was the third son of Augustus's adopted grandson, Germanicus, and Augustus' granddaughter, Agrippina the Elder. Gaius was also nephew to Claudius. Gaius Caesar Caligula spent his early years with his father in Germania. There, he received the nickname Caligula by his father’s soldiers. After the death of his father Germanicus and the impeding deteriorations between Agrippina the Elder and Tiberius, Gaius Caesar Caligula was sent in 27 CE to live first with his great-grandmother, Livia. Then he went back to his Julian relatives and was in care of his grandmother Antonia Minor. His sole companions were his three sisters, Agrippina the Younger, Drusilla, and Julia Livilla, with whom he allegedly had an incestuous relation.
In 31 CE Caligula followed Tiberius on Capri until 37 CE.
===Imperial Succession===
Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus Caligula succeded Tiberius in 37 CE.  The Imperial estates and the titles of the Principate were left to Caligula and Tiberius' own grandson, Tiberius Gemellus, who were to serve as joint heirs. However, Gaius Caesar Caligula,  backed by Macro, the praefectus of the praetorius, Caligula had Tiberius’ will with regards to Tiberius Gemellus quashed. It seems that his first acts were generous in spirit, though likely political in nature. He granted bonuses to the Praetorian Guard, destroyed Tiberius' treason papers, declared that treason trials were a thing of the past, recalled exiles, and helped those who had been harmed by the Imperial tax system. However, following an auspicious start to his reign, Caligula fell seriously ill in October of 37 CE. In the aftermath of the illness, Gaius rule became more autocratic.
In Italy Gaius had harbors at Rhegium and Sicily improved and had grain imports from Egypt increased. He had public works completed, temples built and walls repaired. His foreign policy was quite unsuccessful in the West, as his northern campaign and the attempt of crossing to Britain resulted in a failure. However, during Gaius’s reign, Mauretania was annexed and reorganized into two provinces. Caligula's actions as Emperor were described as being especially harsh to the Senate and the equestrian order. These actions led to at least three failed conspiracies against Gaius.  However Gaius was murdered as a consequence of a successful attempt under the leadership of Cassius Chaerea, one of the officers of the Praetorian Guard. Yet when in 41 C.E., Gaius was murdered by the plot, there was no heir. The Praetorians eventually chose Caligula’s uncle, Claudius. 
===Gaius the Jews and Judaea
The reign of Gais Caligula was characterized by various clashes between the Jews and the Roman authorities both in Alexandria and in Judaea. In 38 CE, some members of the Greek population of Alexandria erected statues of the Emperor inside some of the synagogues of Alexandria. The Jews broke them down. The result was that the Greek and especially the Egyptian mob of Alexandria looted, burned and killed many of the Jewish residents, with the consent of Aulus Avilius Flaccus, the praefectus of Egypti. The Greeks and the Jews sent each a delegation to Gaius in Rome. The Jewish delegation was under the leadership of the philosopher Philo. The two delegations arrived in 40 CE and were still there when the Emperor was murdered.
In Judea Caligula had [[Marullus]] as his appointed governor for his entire tenure (37-41 CE). A similar clash occurred in the city of Jamnia in Judaea. The local Jews were angered by the erection of an altar to Caligula and destroyed it. Gaius Caligula ordered the erection of a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem. The governor of Syria Publius Petronius succeeded in delaying for nearly a year the imperial order. By then, under the mediation of Agrippa I, Gaius Caligula had quashed the order. However the Emperor had also ordered the courageous Publius Petronius to take his own life. However the ship bringing the new that the Emperor was dead, preceded that which ordered Petronius to commit suicide. Herod Agrippa I at Gaius Caligula’s accession received the territories of Batanaea and Trachonitis. In 39 CE, as Agrippa I had Herod Antipas accused of planning a rebellion against Roman rule with the help of Parthia. The tetrarch was exiled, and Agrippa I was rewarded with his territories. Between 39 and 41 CE, Agrippa I was in Rome. Agrippa I was also instrumental in having the accession of Claudius recognized by the Senate, who wished to restore the Republic. 
 
'''Caligula''' (12 CE - 41 CE) was the third Roman Emperor, who reigned from 37 to 41 CE.
 
==Overview==
 
Caligula was the third ruler of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He succeeded [[Tiberius]] and was followed by [[Claudius]]).
 
====Caligula and the Jews====
 
In his youth, Caligula formed a strong friendship for [[Herod Agrippa]], but as Emperor his policy toward the Jews was not favorable.
 
In Judea Caligula had [[Marullus]] as his appointed governor for his entire tenure (37-41 CE). A major crisis arose following the Emperor's order that his image be placed in the Temple at Jerusalem. Petronius, the governor of Syria, was ordered to mobilize half of his army in Palestine in order to enforce this command (39-40). The Jews petitioned Petronius who supported their cause, while [[Herod Agrippa]] also tried to mediate in Rome. Caligula sent orders to carry out his will and even intimated Petronius to suicide; only the assassination of Caligula avoided the showdown.
 
==Related categories==
 
*[[Roman Emperors]]
*[[Herod Agrippa]] / [[Herod Antipas]] / [[Philo]]
 
==External links==
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula Wikipedia]
*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=49&letter=C&search=Caligula Jewish Encyclopedia (1906)]
 


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Latest revision as of 16:58, 11 February 2012

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