Sic semper tyrannis!
Yes, I know those words were originally said by (or attributed to) Brutus concerning the murder of Julius Caesar, but the Romans apparently took them seriously, for 1,964 years ago today (Jan. 24) they offed another one of their tyrants (whose middle names were also "Julius Caesar"): The Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus.
What? You never heard of him?
But that’s his picture on the left!
Well, okay, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know him by his proper name because he is far better known by his nickname.
Y’see, when he was a little boy, his father, the wildly popular Germanicus (who was in line for the throne but died under mysterious circumstances), took his family with him when he was out on military campaigns.
His little son Gaius had a little soldier suit, and it tickled the troops to see him wear it. As a result, they nicknamed him after one of the items of his soldier suit: his little boots.
"Little Boot" in Latin is the name he is better known by today: Caligula. (They also sometimes called him the plural form Caligulae or "Little Boots.")
After the death of the much-resented Emperor Tiberius (who was on the throne when Jesus was crucified), Caligula became emperor, and at first he was very popular as people thought it was a fresh start after Tiberius’s interminable reign of cruelty and depravity. Caligula even publicly burned the secret dossiers that Tiberius had kept on prominent citizens (though rumors were that he held back a secret copy of them).
Caligula’s popularity came to a screeching halt when he had a sudden illness that gave him terrible headaches and seemed to alter his personality. Afterwards, he was incredibly cruel, spiteful, and in the view of many, insane.
He even at times appears to have demanded to be a worshipped as a god, and became a forerunner of the Beast of Revelation by demaning to have a statue of himself placed in Jerusalem for the veneration of the Jewish people, an act that would have certainly sparked civil war. (Notable Jewish figures such as Philo the Jewish philosopher and King Herod Agrippa were able to dissuade him from this plan.)
Eventually, the Romans got so fed up with Caligula that–three years, ten months, and eight days into his reigh–they murdered him. Members of his own guard killed him (as well as his wife and his infant daughter).
It was in the wake of his death that his uncle, the lame, stammering scholar Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus was dragged by the Praetorian Guard from where he was hiding behind a curtain (lest he also be killed, as the whole royal family seemed under attack) and proclaimed emperor (so that the guard could stay gainfully employed). Despite his typically prodigious Roman name, he is known to us as the Emperor Claudius.
It was a Roman holiday.
Thanks for the history lesson!
There is a historical fiction book (though partially based on fact) on Pontius Pilate, written by Paul Maier. In this book, Pilate is recalled to Rome and is brought before Caligula, along with those who opposed Pilate. In the story Caligula assures the accusers that Pilate will be punished for his alleged misdeeds; then, when the accusers have left, he suddenly bursts out laughing, revealing to Pilate that he wouldn’t be punished at all, and that Caligula’s performance was merely a ruse to get rid of Pilate’s accusers. Pilate was not calmed by this news. Not necessarily historical, but interesting to read.
Caligula’s popularity came to a screeching halt when he had a sudden illness that gave him terrible headaches and seemed to alter his personality. Afterwards, he was incredibly cruel, spiteful, and in the view of many, insane.
That sure sounds like demonic possession!
“That sure sounds like demonic possession!”
Sounds more like a mental disorder to me.
Also, he appointed his horse to the senate. Isn’t that hilarious? hahahaha
Actually, the “horse” thing is a legend. Caligula, though insane, was no dummy. Evidently at one point he said something like “my horse would be a better senator than you,” which was embellished by later generations. “I, Claudius,” though (in my opinion) one of the finest things ever to be produced for television, is not a good source for historical accuracy.
And it was when Germanicus was a minor that Paul appealed to Caesar, because for that time, Rome was ruled in practice by Germanicus’ tutor – Seneca.
Paul had every reason to hope for a fair and just trial, and just possibly being used by God to convert Seneca to the Faith.
Circuit Rider: Actually the Germanicus who was Caligula’s father died in A.D. 19, when Jesus was still alive. Perhaps you were thinking of Paul appealing to Caesar during the time of Claudius, perhaps?
I hate to be picky, but I’m afraid that you’ve misattributed the quotation. There’s no record of what (if anything) Brutus said while he and the other tyrannicides were stabbing Caesar – neither Suetonius, nor Plutarch, nor Appian mentions anything. The famous line in Suetonius is Caesar’s “kai su, teknon;” (“you too, child?”), which shows up in Shakespeare as “Et tu, Brute?”
“Sic semper tyrannis” was John Wilkes Booth, after he shot Abe Lincoln. It’s also, if I’m not mistaken, the state motto of Virginia (Booth lived in Virginia for a while during the War, and did a stint in the Richmond Grays).
Coincidentally, Booth’s father and his brother were both named Junius Brutus Booth, after the family of revolutionaries (Lucius Iunius Brutus, a distant ancestor of the famous Marcus Iunius Brutus, led the revolt against the kings of Rome and founded the republic in 509 BC)….
Oh, and one other interesting tidbit about Caligula – he is the “Gaius” who built the Circus of Gaius and Nero, in which St. Peter was crucified, and which now runs under the south side of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Mike, a legend, eh? It read it in my high school history text book. the things they teach these days.
Jimmy, either my source or my memory must be wrong.
Christopher: Was aware of the John Wilkes Booth (alleged) use and that it was the Viriginia state motto. Have been under the impression that it is also attributed to Brutus, and it seems to be by at least some. While writing this post, as part of due diligence I confirmed that some are attributing it to Brutus online. This, however, does not establish ancient attribution to him. It may only be a modern misunderstanding, so you may well be right.
Roman Holiday. Audrey Hepburn. Mmmmm.
I’ll second that, Steven!
Caligula may not have appointed his horse to the Senate, but he did marshal the legions for the invasion of Britain, and then at the last second called the invasion off while the troops were on the beach ready to embark. He had them all gather sea shells for him instead. Thus, the invasion and conquest of Britain had to wait a couple years — it was accomplished under the decidedly unwarriorlike Claudius (not that Caligula was all that warriorlike either).
One more wacky fact: He made someone kiss his foot over and over under the table while he ate his dinner.