Gaius Caligula

Question 1

Personality by sources

Answer 1

Suetonius: so much for Gaius the emperor, the rest of his history … Gaius the monster
Split into two, the good and very quick part, then the longer bad part
Dio: So much for the normal behaviour (notes some illness being the cause of madness)

Suet: initially ‘a dream come true’ for the people

Suet: recalled all exiles
Dio: His grandmother he immediately saluted as Augusta (recalled from exile)
Legitimise rule with ‘Denarius of Gaius AD 37: displayed Gaius’ head obverse, Germanicus’ reverse

Question 2

Changes in Admin

Answer 2

Suetonius: 2,700,000,000 sesterces amassed by Tiberius Caesar … squandered … less than the revolution of a year

Cassius Dio: found in the treasury … 2,300,000,000 … or … 3,300,000,000 … did not take this into the third year

Quadrans of Gaius 39: Displayed removal of 0.5 % auction tax - Pileius displayed, removal of slavery

Pliny the Elder: commemorated … the new emperor … Anio Novus

Question 3

Relations with senate and people

Answer 3

Plebs
Josephus: initially ‘eagerly desired by the people of Rome’
Issue came later
Josephus: ‘desired he eased their tribute … sent soldiers out to meet them … put them to death’
Eques:
Suet: ‘continually reproached the order’ - Josephus and Suet: ‘if only you romans had one neck’
Senate:
Dio: immediately … whole government … placed in his hands
Suetonius & Seneca: evinced the severe barbarity of his anger - was cruel, though according to most sources he did initially lead to the removal of the maiestas trials
Dio: recounts Tiberius’ speech: ‘show neither affection nor mercy’

Question 4

Religion

Answer 4

Dio: would pose as Neptune … set up a precinct for his own worship

Dio: in every aspect wanted to appear as more than just a human being and an emperor

Suetonius: only interested in doing the impossible

Cassius Dio: senate ‘Granted’ himself a ‘self-funded’ temple on the Paletine hill
Suet: all of the ‘richest citizens’ reached for a priesthood in his own precinct of worship

Question 5

Death / Assassination

Answer 5

Josephus: ‘three’ assassination plots separately

Josephus: ‘Cassius Chaerea’ headed it, and ‘Lucius Annius’ was a senatorial conspirator

Cassius Dio: places an additional Sabinus (Praetorian tribune) Callistus (Freedman) and Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (Praetorian prefect) as additional conspirators

Final meeting, Dio: consul bent over to ‘kiss’ the ‘feet’ of Gaius, not fully hated?

Death: Dio: all of them ‘kept stabbing him savagely … some even tasted his flesh’

Seneca: motivations due to comments on effeminacy