16
16
0
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 9
"Your Emperor has returned..." In memory of John Hurt (1940 - 2017)
A scene featuring John Hurt's legendary performance as Emperor Caligula in the classic series I, CLAUDIUS (BBC-TV, 1976)
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that August 31 is the anniversary of the birth of Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who is best known as the intensely cruel Caligula.
He was the last of the male descendants from Augustus titled Caesar to rule Rome he had aqueducts built in Rome which endeared him to the people.
Image:
1. substantial remains of the Aqua Claudia, begun by the emperor Caligula in A.D. 38 which extended 69 km;
2. In the reign of Augustus there might be ten or twelve races in a day during and after the time of Caligula, twenty-four a day was commonplace.;
3. Caligula coin
4. Eustache_Le_Sueur_-_Caligula_Depositing_the_Ashes_of_his_Mother_and_Brother_in_the_Tomb_of_his_Ancestors.
Background from bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caligula.shtml
'Caligula', more properly Gaius (Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus), was the third Roman emperor, in succession to Tiberius. He has gone down in history, perhaps unfairly, as Rome's most tyrannical emperor, but since we lack Tacitus' account of his short reign, it is impossible to know the truth behind the wilder stories.
Gaius was the son of the popular Germanicus and the great-grandson of Augustus - with the blood of Augustus from both sides of his family. From age two to four he lived on the Rhine with his father's legions, and the soldiers gave him the affectionate nickname 'Caligula', or 'Bootikins'.
After the death of his brother in 33 AD he was, with Gemellus (grandson of Tiberius), next in succession, and lived with Tiberius on Capreae. When Tiberius died in 37 AD, the Praetorian Prefect Macro ensured that Gaius, not Gemellus, became emperor. It was also rumoured that Gaius and the Praetorian Prefect Macro had hastened the death of Tiberius by smothering him with a pillow. Gemellus and Macro were both put to death at the beginning of the new reign.
The 24-year-old emperor was initially hugely popular - he was the son of Germanicus, had the blood of Augustus in his veins, and was a welcome change from the dour, absent Tiberius.
Departing from his predecessor's frugality, he provided lavish games for the Romans to enjoy, and abolished the sales tax. But seven months into his reign he fell ill, and he emerged from this as a megalomaniac - he may have lost his sanity, though this is doubtful.
He went out of his way to humiliate the senate (Suetonius says that he intended to make his horse consul), and encouraged treason trials for his own financial benefit. He also insisted on being treated as a god (in contrast to the wiser policy of Augustus). Excavations in the Roman forum in the summer of 2003 confirmed that he incorporated the ancient Temple of Castor and Pollux within his palace - a sacrilege reversed by his successor Claudius I.
Gaius had three sisters, with whom he was alleged to have committed incest, and they were given unprecedented public honours, being included in the soldiers' oath of allegiance. But Drusilla died in 38 AD, and the next year Agrippina and Livilla were exiled for involvement in a conspiracy.
In 39-40 AD, Gaius campaigned in Germany, as his father had done. More mysterious was his planned expedition against Britain in 40 AD. He got no further than the Channel, where he ordered the troops to gather seashells, a command which, despite many attempts, has not yet been satisfactorily explained.
His actions suggest that he needed military glory such as Augustus and Tiberius had enjoyed, but did not want the bother (or the expense) of a war. His triumph on his return in 40 AD was thought to have featured bogus Germans (slaves in disguise). He also particularly offended the Jews, intending to place a statue of himself in the Temple at Jerusalem.
In 41 AD, the Praetorian Guard assassinated Gaius, together with his wife Caesonia and his daughter. He was 29. Only the common people, who benefited from his extravagant spending, lamented his death."
The best series I have seen on the Roman Emperors from Augustus to Claudius is the British Series I Claudius
"Your Emperor has returned..." In memory of John Hurt (1940 - 2017)
"A scene featuring John Hurt's legendary performance as Emperor Caligula in the classic series I, CLAUDIUS (BBC-TV, 1976)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmum3glL1DA
FYI Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)LTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.PVT Mark Zehner1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSGT Mark AndersonSFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian Williamsaa John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.SP5 Jeannie Carle
He was the last of the male descendants from Augustus titled Caesar to rule Rome he had aqueducts built in Rome which endeared him to the people.
Image:
1. substantial remains of the Aqua Claudia, begun by the emperor Caligula in A.D. 38 which extended 69 km;
2. In the reign of Augustus there might be ten or twelve races in a day during and after the time of Caligula, twenty-four a day was commonplace.;
3. Caligula coin
4. Eustache_Le_Sueur_-_Caligula_Depositing_the_Ashes_of_his_Mother_and_Brother_in_the_Tomb_of_his_Ancestors.
Background from bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caligula.shtml
'Caligula', more properly Gaius (Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus), was the third Roman emperor, in succession to Tiberius. He has gone down in history, perhaps unfairly, as Rome's most tyrannical emperor, but since we lack Tacitus' account of his short reign, it is impossible to know the truth behind the wilder stories.
Gaius was the son of the popular Germanicus and the great-grandson of Augustus - with the blood of Augustus from both sides of his family. From age two to four he lived on the Rhine with his father's legions, and the soldiers gave him the affectionate nickname 'Caligula', or 'Bootikins'.
After the death of his brother in 33 AD he was, with Gemellus (grandson of Tiberius), next in succession, and lived with Tiberius on Capreae. When Tiberius died in 37 AD, the Praetorian Prefect Macro ensured that Gaius, not Gemellus, became emperor. It was also rumoured that Gaius and the Praetorian Prefect Macro had hastened the death of Tiberius by smothering him with a pillow. Gemellus and Macro were both put to death at the beginning of the new reign.
The 24-year-old emperor was initially hugely popular - he was the son of Germanicus, had the blood of Augustus in his veins, and was a welcome change from the dour, absent Tiberius.
Departing from his predecessor's frugality, he provided lavish games for the Romans to enjoy, and abolished the sales tax. But seven months into his reign he fell ill, and he emerged from this as a megalomaniac - he may have lost his sanity, though this is doubtful.
He went out of his way to humiliate the senate (Suetonius says that he intended to make his horse consul), and encouraged treason trials for his own financial benefit. He also insisted on being treated as a god (in contrast to the wiser policy of Augustus). Excavations in the Roman forum in the summer of 2003 confirmed that he incorporated the ancient Temple of Castor and Pollux within his palace - a sacrilege reversed by his successor Claudius I.
Gaius had three sisters, with whom he was alleged to have committed incest, and they were given unprecedented public honours, being included in the soldiers' oath of allegiance. But Drusilla died in 38 AD, and the next year Agrippina and Livilla were exiled for involvement in a conspiracy.
In 39-40 AD, Gaius campaigned in Germany, as his father had done. More mysterious was his planned expedition against Britain in 40 AD. He got no further than the Channel, where he ordered the troops to gather seashells, a command which, despite many attempts, has not yet been satisfactorily explained.
His actions suggest that he needed military glory such as Augustus and Tiberius had enjoyed, but did not want the bother (or the expense) of a war. His triumph on his return in 40 AD was thought to have featured bogus Germans (slaves in disguise). He also particularly offended the Jews, intending to place a statue of himself in the Temple at Jerusalem.
In 41 AD, the Praetorian Guard assassinated Gaius, together with his wife Caesonia and his daughter. He was 29. Only the common people, who benefited from his extravagant spending, lamented his death."
The best series I have seen on the Roman Emperors from Augustus to Claudius is the British Series I Claudius
"Your Emperor has returned..." In memory of John Hurt (1940 - 2017)
"A scene featuring John Hurt's legendary performance as Emperor Caligula in the classic series I, CLAUDIUS (BBC-TV, 1976)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmum3glL1DA
FYI Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)LTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.PVT Mark Zehner1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSGT Mark AndersonSFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian Williamsaa John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.SP5 Jeannie Carle
(8)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott Sharon SSG Donald H "Don" Bates
(3)
(0)
(0)
(0)
Read This Next