Caligula: A Life from Beginning to End

by Hourly History

Caligula * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. Caligula was one of the first rulers of the Roman Empire, and yet numbers among the most famous. His family history is mired in political scandals, tragedy, and murderous plots to forward the agendas of shadowy cabals that sought to oppose the nation in its early infancy. The full story of his life begins long before his birth, and his legacy continues long after his sensational murder at the hands of those closest to him. Inside you will read about... ✓ The Rise of the Roman Empire ✓ The Julio-Claudian Dynasty ✓ Caligula’s Rise to Power ✓ An Emperor Driven Mad ✓ An Emperor Becomes a God ✓ The Assassination of the Emperor And much more! A true product of his time, Caligula’s rich and colorful story is sure to draw you in until the very end.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Historical, Ebooks

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2017

About the author

At Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be real long if it told all his craziness

Caligula: A Life From Beginning to End by Hourly History sheds light on the Dark times of living under a crazy man's rule. A man that thinks he's a god! ( We have one too that says he is the King of the Jews and The Chosen One.) I have always been fascinated with Ronan emperors and have read so many books about them since I was a young girl. One thing I noticed is they said he made his horse a priest but I thought he made him a Senator.

[Mark Porton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might take a break from the series...

Again (and I really shouldn't repeat myself) the subject, in this case Caligula, really only made a serious appearance at 51% of the book read and departed after being assassinated and succeded by Claudius at 87%. In some ways I believe the authors gave more air-time to Caligula's ambivalent, tyrannical and perverted predecessor, Tiberius.

Caligula is a fascinating character, albeit a complete nutter; in my view he could have and should have occupied 95% of this book - from my various reading, podcasts and other research on him, there is enough material to do so.

3 stars.

I'll take a break from these books, but will probably sneak one in here and there - so they're not all that bad really.

[Otherwyrld · Rating 3 out of 5]

A competent brief history of an Emperor of Rome who has left a much larger mark on history than the 3 years of his reign would suggest. Of necessity, a large chunk of this book has to be spent on the background to his reign, as so much of it was influenced by what and who had come before him. It did mean that relatively little time was spent on Caligula himself, which was a shame considering his notoriety. Still, it gives the basic story for anyone interested in this period of Ancient Roman history.

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The history of Ancient Rome is as rich in intricacies and plot twists as any modern-day soap opera."

Caligula is probably the one ruler of the Roman Empire that fascinates me the most. A lot of mystery and intrigue surround him and his short reign of three years and ten months so I didn't hesitate to start this book once I received it.

I do have to admit that I was a tad disappointed that the first few chapters weren't actually about Caligula's life. It was mostly about some of the rulers who came before him, especially Tiberius. In my opinion, it wasn't actually until chapter six (out of the 9 + the conclusion) that it was really about Caligula. I do understand that we had to have a little backstory about the men that came before him but still, I would've rather read more about Caligula himself.

Aside from all of that I did like this book as I do all of Hourly History's book. I don't think I could ever get tired to read about ancient Rome because I always learn something new. It wasn't any different with this time around so that in itself was a positive point for me. The Julio-Claudian dynasty was definitely very fascinating, it can't be denied.

Overall, despite wanting just a little bit more about Caligula himself, I definitely liked Caligula: A Life From Beginning to End. As always these books are quick reads and can easily be read in one sitting, which is what I did with this one.

[stephanie suh · Rating 5 out of 5]

For nearly two thousand years, Ancient Rome was a great arena of fearless political gladiators whose ambitious instincts to rule the world coincided with epochal shifts in demography and geopolitics in the regions it had conquered. No wonder the history of Ancient Rome is fraught with memorable figures whose names are immortalized in a variety of literary forms: Plays, Poems, Paintings, and Films depict the deeds and actions of these men of exceptional characters, one of whom is unforgettable Caligula as elegantly narrated in Caligula by Hourly History.

Gaius Julius Caesar Agustus Germanicus was born in 12 A.D. The nickname “caligula” derived from caliga, menaing “little military boot” was attached to him as a term of endearment as Caligula accompanied his father Germanicus on the military campaign to Germania at the age of two attired in a full soldier’s uniform. In fact, Germanicus was a renowned Roman general whose valor was second to none and very popular among soldiers and citizenry. Perhaps it was this great popularity that caused his demise and the tragic end of his beloved family under the rule of Tiberius, the second emperor, the successor of the first emperor Caesar Augustus (which also indicates that Caligula was a distant nephew of Julius Caesar.) It was believed that Germanicus’s rival Piso was responsible for the assassination of Germanicus out of jealousy and imprisonment of the family except Caligula who had managed to escape the arrest by fleeing to Tiberius in Capri when his mother Agippina, the Elder and his two elder brothers were horribly mistreated in prison and beaten to death. And it was this Tiberius who named the only living son of the popular Germanicus to be his successor – the third emperor.

Thus Caligula’s rise to the throne of the emperor was the sine qua non of the tumulus aftermath as a result of his father’s death that rekindled the ember of political intrigues of the Senate and the Praetorian Guard. What’s more, the first six months of Caligula’s reign was regarded as quite innovative and auspicious. With a huge sum of money in the Roman Treasury, Caligula’s achievements included the following 1) to reinstate the popular vote allowing all citizens to speak in the government process; (2) to make the ledgers of the use of treasury funds public; (3) to raise the salaries and provide bonuses to every branch of military; and (4) to recall all those who had been exiled under Tiberius.

According to a popular theory, Caligula was struck with a serious mental illness eight months after his enthronement. Some say that Caligula suffered from a lifelong epilepsy as evidenced by his having never learnt to swim, whereas swimming was a popular form of exercise at the time. It was also this time when Gemellius, the young grandson of Tiberius who had supposed to co-rule with Caligula was executed under his order along with Caligula’s father-in-law and brother-in-low with his younger sisters being sent into exile. However, curiously enough, he saved his uncle Claudius, who had been afflicted with a serious illness that left him with a severe limp and partial deafness.

Caligula’s stupendous madness continued in building two large ships for personal use, one of which was a floating palace and erecting many monuments commemorating himself as well as theaters, temples, and entertainment complexes for his personal use at the expense of the treasury funds. Furthermore, by 40 AD Caligula proclaimed himself to be a god in attempt to dictate religious aspects into political policies by beginning to refer to himself as “Jupiter” in public documentation while still alive.

However, the reign of Caligula’s pseudo-theocracy met its end when Cassius Chaerea, a member of the Praetorian Guard, and his accomplices faced Caligula during a public event held in honor of Augustus and stabbed the emperor until he fell to the ground and breathed no more. It was only three years and ten months that Caligula ruled the young empire and it was how it was ended.

Caligula by Hourly History is a comparatively light read, written in plain English from insightful views on the notorious emperor Caligula based upon factual analysis and historical backgrounds that help the reader understand the cohesiveness of how Caligula rose to power in the turbulent time of political intricacies, which might have caused the young and impetuous emperor to be agitated and anxious evermore as his ambition to emulate the ruling style of Augustus and the popularity of his beloved father clashed with a harsh reality. Caligula’s acting upon instincts or “guts” did not work out for him because his trauma as a result of the tragedy of his once beloved family in combination with his impulsive temperament that needed a wise guardian to tame it. If you have heard about Caligula but do not know much about him other than you have seen him in movies, which have a tendency to portray him as a downright madman indulging in every form of debauchery you can possibly imagine, this is the book you can enjoy in your spare time.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite short. It suited my need to know about Caligula but if I was looking for a more detailed story, this might be way too short.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a god.”
Caligula
No history of the Roman Caesars can be written without a synopsis of what went before. From the time when Gaius Julius Caesar emerged as the winner of the Great Roman War and declared himself (with the approval of a majority of the Senate) dictator perpetuo of Rome until his assassination on March 15, 44BC, the question of who would follow had never been formally addressed. Although the assassination was planned by the Senate, apparently little or no thought was given to the void that was sure to be created. Caesar’s grand-nephew and adopted son, Gaius Octavius had been named by Caesar as his successor but this was disputed by Marc Antony and others. Antony was eventually defeated paving the way for Rome’s second Caesar, Augustus; under whose rule, the position of Caesar was solidified.
As can be seen, the Romans weren’t so set on blood when it came to appointing an heir to the highest office of the land. More often than not, adopted sons were chosen over blood relatives. This vastly differs from the later practices in the royal houses of Europe.
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula) was born in 12 AD. It is rumored that Tiberius named his only remaining grandson, Caligula, as his successor, not for his value to Rome but as a final punishment to the empire that bested him. Although his reign as Caesar only lasted three years and ten months, he managed to create a reputation of sexual depravity, cruelty, self-absorption, and madness.

Relatively little of this book is directly linked to the life and rule of Caligula but more about his line of forbearers. I can’t say if this is due to lack of factual information or a writing choice of the author. While reading this short history, an axiom kept running through my head. “History repeats itself.” Considering how much damage Caligula inflicted on Rome in such a short time, I am given pause to pray for the United States.

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caligula by Hourly History describes the life of a man and ruler who became a monster. Just when you thought you had read it all in terms of horror, in this short summary of history you can find the real-life horror that rivals some of the strangest fiction written by “extreme horror” writers today. And you can even feel good about yourself because you are reading non-fiction and increasing the amount of your liberal arts-based comprehensive knowledge.

When many think of Caligula they think of atrocities but in his first six months, Caligula was admired for reinstating the popular vote and establishing transparency in government spending. Ledgers detailing the use of government funds would no longer be private. He raised salaries and provided bonuses to the military. He issued a general pardon for people who had been convicted of treason. Records of trials for treason were to be destroyed. (loc 285-286).

What went wrong? There may have been a physical illness, encephalitis which caused Caligula to become insane. (loc 294-304) This may have led him to the extraordinary events that he became famous for such as ordaining a horse as a member of the priesthood or forcing a section of the audience into a stadium to be eaten by wild boars because he was bored. (loc 363).

What You Can Learn from This Book

What is the difference between the Roman Empire and the Roman Republic? Who supported each side and why?

Tiberius, an emperor in absentia for much of the time, didn’t like Caligula. He may have killed Caligula’s father. So why did Tiberius support Caligula’s ascension to power?

Claudius was a disabled and ignored member of Caligula’s family. After Caligula’s assassination and the follow-up attempts by almost all parties to wipe out Caligula’s remaining family members, how did Claudius become emperor?

Why does everybody seem to have “Julius Caesar” somewhere in his name?

[Mark Laufenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book did spend a lot of time reviewing the rulers of the Roman Empire before Caligula was named Emperor. However, they were connected in explaining how Caligula had come to power. His depravity that was exploited in a couple of movies that I have seen about him only received a brief mention since it could not be substantiated for certain.

What was covered was the fact that he did some good things before his illness and had been a good ruler for the common people. The damage that he did came after his illness caused his descent into madness and that was covered as well. It may seem as though there wasn't that much time spent on his actual reign, but you have to keep in mind that it only lasted for 4 years.

Overall I thought that the book did a pretty good job for a concise story and was an interesting and worthwhile read.

[Ismael Alves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I jump to the review, I have to admit that Caligula’s bust was one of the things I was most excited for when I visited the Louvre for the first time.
So, Caligula, the Roman emperor whose reign has captivated me for years (and let’s be honest, who isn’t fascinated by a guy who made his horse a consul?), stands out for his notorious extravagance (or some infamous flamboyance) and seemingly unhinged rule (he was the true chaotic evil in the alignment chart). This book offers a concise overview of his life (even though both his reign and life were as short as a Roman banquet’s supply of wine *insert emoji meme*), covering everything from his meteoric rise to power to his spectacular descent into MADNESS (this is in caps on purpose).

Caligula’s story is, quite frankly, one that needs little embellishment—tales of debauchery (which would make modern-day revelers blush), cruelty, and bizarre claims of divinity (yeah, at some point he kinda thought he was a god) are woven throughout this brief but intriguing read. For example, there’s his infamous move to declare war on Neptune, the god of the sea, which resulted in his soldiers collecting seashells as spoils of war - and I swear that the first time I heard about it I really thought it was some exaggeration. And not to mention his penchant for calling the full moon “brother,” and insisting that anyone who stared at it for too long be punished. I mean, if nothing else, Caligula sure knew how to keep things interesting, let’s put it that way.

The book, however, is like one of those really good appetizers that leaves you wanting more. It skims the surface, providing just enough detail to get a taste of the madness but not diving deep enough into the rich, complex layers of Caligula’s personality and the political intrigue of the Roman Empire. It’s like being served a single grape when you were promised a Roman feast.
And let’s face it, among all the Roman emperors, you’d expect Caligula to have a somewhat in depth biography.

As a history enthusiast (and okay, someone who might have a slightly morbid fascination with the insane antics of ancient rulers - which is completely not my fault), I found the book to be a great introduction (emphasizing introduction), especially for those new to Roman history. But for those of us who have spent countless hours imagining what it must have been like to live under such a colorful ruler and some more countless hours studying a big part of history and Roman itself, it might leave you wanting a bit more meat on the bone.

All in all, I’d give this book a solid 3.5 stars and I know (and admit) that I might be pumping the number because I have this weak spot. It’s informative and entertaining, perfect for a quick dive into the life of one of history’s most infamous emperors, but if you’re looking for a deep, hearty exploration of Caligula’s rule, you might end up feeling like you’ve only been served the appetizer.

Would read again tho.

[Guillermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When judging behaviors of these emperors, particullarly someone as Caligula we should include potential reasons behind. We will find many going back to his childhood. His father admired as hero by majority of residents in Rome, his soldiers as well but eventually victim of a plot, was murdered for someone that thereafter killed his mom and sisters. As a paradox, the same man, provided him protection in a way as hostage, in his palace. Not trying to justify Caligula behavior, but better understand, how childhood affected this man and what is behind thst portrait in his history. This book help to focus that perspective. In some way, should help to understand behaviors of the current leaders nowadays.

[Thordur · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too short

I can't give this item much. Well you start reading about Rome, the empire, then thereafter you'll find Augustus and Tiberius with some unnecessary details. Anything about Caligula comes on page 22, which means that you have about 18 pages which are only about Caligula. Of 40 pages you have 18 about Caligula. You would like more meat to the bone wouldn't you? I can't give this item more stars than 1, it could well have been better written if more focused on Caligula's life, not spending a long time on other emperors.

[Julian Orozco, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

This little book covered lots of information and history about Caligula, but could have covered more. The first third of the book covers the rise of the empire and it's first emperors. The subject is "little boots". There are other books covering the History of the Roman Empire, this book should have gotten into more history on Caligula and his rise and fall to power.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of history here (dates, names and conflicts) that set up the very uncertain times surrounding Caligula's short reign. Very little is known about him. So as interesting as the 'backstory' maybe (and confusing), not much can be learned about the man himself from this book. I've been reading a number of books in the Hourly History series. Most of them I like. This one felt short for me.

[Ed Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Limited Discussion of The Subject

Well over half the book sets up the 3 year reign of Caligula starting with Julius Caesar and running through Augustus and Tiberius. You get less than half on Caligula himself - from birth to death. It’s a good intro, and a decent overview of the early Empire - but is light on Caligula himself.

[Paul Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written

As a layman it is great to read an historical account without choking on it a well laid it account of a known historical figure that I knew nothing about, I feel I do now!

[Paul Creasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

A quick read but thorough bio of Rome's craziest emperor. I was wondering why more information about Caligula's supposed incestuous relationship with his sister Drusilla was omitted. Very enjoyable.

[Dawn Masters · Rating 1 out of 5]

Useless

I was 60% into the book before reading anything about Caligula. Very disappointing. Then, at 87%, Caligula exited and the book talked about other things. I wanted to learn more about Caligula and his short reign; I was not able to do so with this book. Utterly useless.

[Unndis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully informative and well written

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is succinct but filled with information. Would definitely recommend, especially as a crash course or as a source for school projects

[tolga atalay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This book is great Goodreads. I really enjoyed it and finished in very short time. I recommend anyone who enjoys bit of Roman history

[Jeannette Modesto · Rating 3 out of 5]

44 pages and only about 15 dedicated to Caligula. I was hoping to read more of his horrors.

[Deb Lancaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

So scant with info on Caligula that it was barely worth it.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but interesting.

[Ladi Mountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[Mohamed Othman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Simple and brief description of the history of Roman empire in its beginning. All tyrants behave in the same way.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very clear explanation of the complex machinations of a group of early Roman leaders.  The Roman Republic, which was the rule of the land for 500 years, collapsed when Julius Caesar took over Rome and created the Roman Empire.  I was surprised to see that 'Pax Romana'(Roman Peace) was considered to be in place for 200 years after Caesar Augustus took the helm of Rome.  It seemed that Tiberius and Caligula created lots of fear and controversy during their reigns.  This is a quick look at some of the most important rulers of the Roman Empire.

[Anthony Ambruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough, yet concise, bio

I enjoyed reading this biography of Caligula. The information put the beginnings of the Roman Empire in perspective for me. I recommend this book to you.

[David Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

They’re using the “I” word.

Living during the Trump era must be very much like during Caligula and seeing the Republic decay. The emperor has no garments and facts change with a whim.

[Sundaram Shanmugam]

A short read. In a way it is a brief biography.