Caligula: Was He Really Mad?

Join this channel to get access to perks, and to watch the next episode in the series right now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join This is part 3 in our series on the Emperors of Rome, watch part 1 here: https://youtu.be/2dcT4tqPL_s Watch the full series on Emperors of Rome here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuFaLL_HsNXPUz9rPdyrENiJ Download the SAILY app and use our code RESTISHISTORY at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase 🌏 Enough of the Princeps, what remains to be described, is the monster…. The Roman emperor Caligula endures as one of the most notorious figures in not only Roman history, but the history of the world. Famed as a byword for sexual degeneracy, cruelty and corruption, the account of his life written by the Roman historian Suetonius has, above all, enshrined him as such for posterity. Throughout the biography there is a whiff of dark comedy, as Caligula is cast as the ultimate demented caesar, corrupted absolutely by his absolute power and driven into depravity. Born of a sacred and illustrious bloodline to adored parents, his early life - initially so full of promise - was shadowed by tragedy, death, and danger, the members of his family picked off one by one by the emperor Tiberius. Nevertheless, Caligula succeeded, through his own cynical intelligence and cunning manipulation of public spectacle, to launch himself from the status of despised orphan, to that of master of Rome. Yet, before long his seemingly propitious reign, was spiralling into a nightmare of debauchery and terror…. Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the most notorious emperor in Rome: Caligula, a man said to have slept with his sister, transformed his palace into a brothel, cruelly humiliated senators, and even made his horse into a consul. But what is the truth behind these horrific legends? Was Caligula really more monster than man...? 00:00 A mysterious emperor 05:18 Why are the stories about Caligula so bad? 08:40 Germanicus: the best man in Rome 16:20 Caligula is the heir 19:30 The death of Tiberius 20:55 Caligula’s cynical intelligence 22:50 Caligula’s skill playing to the gallery 28:39 Caligula’s turn to evil (according to Suetonius)… 31:35 Caligula as Suetonius’ monster 37:22 Caligula confronts the senate 45:10 The conspiracy against him moves 48:14 Did all this actually happen? 58:43 Did he make his horse a consul? Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor