Caligula

The first several months of Caligula's leadership was a celebration for two main reasons. Firstly, he succeeded the very unpopular Tiberius, and secondly, he was the son of the much beloved Germanicus. Caligula's first acts were generally kind in nature, as he destroyed Tiberius' treason papers, declaring that treason trials were now done with and recalled the related exiles. He also helped those who had been harmed by the Imperial tax system, and put on lavish spectacles for the public, such as the well-known gladiator battles.

Caligula also spearheaded political and public reform. He published the accounts of public funds, which had not been made available during the days of Tiberius. He helped those who lost property in fires, abolished certain taxes, and gave out prizes to the at gymnastic events. He also allowed new members into the Senate. In addition, he restored the practice of democratic elections.

Less than one year after taking the throne, Caligula fell very ill. His popularity was so vast that his illness caused great distress that reached throughout the entire empire. Caligula would recover, however he was no longer the same man. Rome would soon find itself living in a nightmare.

Caligula's illness caused him severe insomnia, that aided his behavior to become ever more unbalanced. Seeing the Emperor ordering an altar to be built to himself caused great concern to the Romans. Caligula's excesses were endless, as he introduced stiff taxation to help pay for his personal luxuries. These occurrences naturally alarmed the senate, as there was now no doubt that the Emperor of Rome was now in fact, a dangerous madman.

Confirming their worst fears, in AD 39 Caligula announced the revival of the treason trials, the bloodthirsty trials which had terrorized the latter years of Tiberius' reign.

Emperor Caligula's actions as were described as being particularly tough on the Senate, and they granted him high honors for his imaginary military victories in an effort to appease the growingly insane emperor. After several failed attempts to assassinate Caligula, a successful plan was eventually hatched by officers within the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea.

On January 24, 41, Cassius Chaerea, along with two military colleagues cornered the emperor in his palace. The trio killed Claigula by stabbing him some thirty times.Some of his German personal guards rushed to his aid but arrived too late. Several Praetorians then swept through the palace seeking to kill any surviving relatives. Caligula's fourth wife Caesonia was stabbed to death, her baby daughter's skull smashed against a wall.

The Senate attempted to use Caligula's death as an opportunity to restore the Republic. Claudius became emperor after securing the support of the Praetorian guard and ordered the immediate execution of Chaerea and all other known conspirators involved in Caligula's death. The reign of Claudius would prove to be a much more civil and productive one.