Gaius Caligula Flashcards
Gaius
Reign 37-41
Son of Germanicus and Agrippina Elder
Augustus’ great grandson
Presentation of personality before
Suetonius- (Splits his reign to good first part but most part bad)
‘A dream come true’
‘Recalled all exiles’ + ‘abolished majestas trials’
Dio- confirms recalls
Denarius of Gaius 37 AD- Gaius and Germanicus (plays on lineage descended from Germanicus- army, praetorian etc)
Used these methods to legitimise his rule
Presentation of personality after
Suetonius- ‘so much for Gaius the emperor, the rest of his history must now cover Gaius the monster’
Dio- ‘so much for the normal behaviour’
Give illness as dividing factor of reign
Josephus + Seneca- talk of vulgar tyranny in reign
Administration
Nothing much but some works
Suetonius- lifted lid on censorship of poets/historians, full power to magistrates in court
Dio- ‘the following good and praiseworthy acts were performed by Gaius’
Pliny Elder- began work on aqueducts
Ie. Anio Novus
Destroyed finances
Dio- ‘in his very second year found himself in need of vast sums in addition’
(squandered surplus saved by tiberius)
Would soend ‘unsparingly’
Seneca- 8 days food left for Claudius
Suetonius- ‘bridged the gap…by brining merchant vessels together’ Bay of Naples/Putioli
Extremely expensive, went across his bridge twice then took apart
Suetonius also talks of extravagant lifestyle for himself and excessive spending on games etc.
Relationship with PLEBS
Early decision to treat well but later on poor
Spent lots on them but then increased tax
Josephus- ‘eagerly desired by the people of Rome … readily and gratefully granted’
‘desired he eased their tributes … sent soldiers to meet them … put to death’
Relationship with EQUESTRIANS
Suetonius- ‘continually reproached the whole order
However
Suetonius +Josephus both say he expanded their order
Relationship with SENATE
Suetonius- so much for G, emperor…
Dio- ‘immediately…the whole goverment and affairs placed in his hands’ (also Suetonius)
Dio- ‘show neither affction nor mercy’
Blamed senate for most deaths under Tiberius the restored majestas
Religion + imperial cult
Dio- At start of reign ‘forbade’ images of himself etc
‘set up a precinct for his own worship’
Would ‘pose’ as deities
‘In every respect wanted to appear more than just a human being and an emperor’
Josephus- ‘claiming’ honours from his subjects no longer ‘appropriate for mortal men’
Assassination
Josephus- 3 ‘assassination plans’
However Dio doesn’t say this, may have been trying to create a sense of mass opposition to his reign
J gives a few praetorian roles, a freedman and mentions a senator
Dio- ‘everybody kept stabbing him savagely’
