Caligula: Little Boots

Soldiers nicknamed the boy Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Caligula ‘little boots’ for the small army boots he wore when with his father’s troops.

Gaius_Caligula_Head

Known as “Caligula,” Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born August 31, A.D. 12, died A.D. 41, and ruled as emperor A.D. 37-41. Caligula was the son of Augustus’ adopted grandson, the very popular Germanicus and his wife Agrippina, who was Augustus’ granddaughter and a paragon of womanly virtue. When Emperor Tiberius died, on March 16, A.D. 37, his will named Caligula and his cousin Tiberius Gemellus heirs. Caligula had the will voided and became sole emperor. Initially he was very generous and popular, but that quickly changed. He was cruel, indulged in sexual aberrations that offended Rome, and was considered insane. The Praetorian Guard had him killed on January 24, A.D. 41.
For details of Caligula’s sordid career, read Suetonius’ biography of Caligula.