Caligula


Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

AKA Caligula or Little Boots

(Emperor of Rome, A.D. 37-41)

He is crazy, names his horse a senator, and has relations with his 3 sisters.

Stats

  • Succeeded by: Nero
  • Death: Assassination by the Praetorian Guard

Life

He is a friend of one of the remaining members of the herodian dynasty, Herod Agrippa II (circa 27-92), who tries to understand the Jews. Flaccus governs Alexandria as well as Jerusalem, is loyal to Tiberius (second emperor of Rome, 14-37), an enemy of Caligula, and is under tension to produce revenue, even by abusing the Jews and taking Temple money. Agrippa goes to check on Flaccus and support the Jews. Thousands of Jews are forced into ghettos in Alexandria, their synagogues burned. Caligula kills Flaccus.

He later planned to put a golden status of himself in the Temple of Jerusalem. An important Jewish leader Philo of Alexandria (a neoplatonist who understands God is both transcendent and imminent, above all things but also in creation) is sent to talk to him. Eastern officials from Syria and Damascus drag their feet in obeying this order. Caligula ignores Philo and the Jews, but he gets assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

(Hillsdale College - Ancient Christianity)