The Life of Gaius Caesar Caligula

In this biography excerpted from Suetonius's The Twelve Caesars, the tumultuous reign of Emperor Caligula is explored, highlighting his initial welcome as the son of a revered military leader. However, his narcissism and tyrannical behavior soon emerge, as he replaces divine statues with his likeness and indulges in violent spectacles while orchestrating assassinations disguised as suicides. The narrative culminates with an examination of the ominous signs that presaged Caligula’s eventual downfall.