what was caligula's brain fever
Alexander Thomson. 2021 Apr;79(4):343-345. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X-ANP-2020-0358. Morgan, "Caligula's Illness Again", CW 66(1973), 327329. Claudius was Caligula's uncle. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31, 12 - January 24, 41 ), most commonly known as Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from 37 to 41. Growing up, Agrippina the Elder had a close relationship with her grandfather, the Emperor Augustus, who personally oversaw her education. [131] Uncomfortable with lingering imperial support, the assassins sought out and killed Caligula's wife, Caesonia, and killed their young daughter, Julia Drusilla, by smashing her head against a wall. [98] Jews were angered by the erection of a clay altar and destroyed it. caligula's officers. [26] Caligula was proclaimed emperor by the Senate on 18 March. [93] As a result, riots broke out in the city. Caligula was the third emperor of the Roman empire. Brain fever in the 1800's was a very vague condition that covered many things like meningitus. [97] Disputes occurred in the city of Jamnia. Long Day's Journey into Night, Dundee Rep," The Herald, 20 April 1994. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31, 12 - January 24, 41), more commonly known by his nickname Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from 37 to 41. [71] Mauretania was annexed by Caligula and subsequently divided into two provinces, Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis, separated by the river Malua. Moreover, like his father, Germanicus had been very popular among the Romans, seen as another Alexander the Great due to his military victories and early death. He gained the nickname 'Caligula' which means 'Little Boots' because of the military regalia he wore as a child. Little is written on the first two years of Caligula's reign. He hated being the grandson of Agrippa and slandered Augustus by repeating a falsehood that his mother was conceived as the result of an incestuous relationship between Augustus and his daughter Julia the Elder. The horse has even made it into the Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: its definition for the name "Incitatus" reads "the name of Caligula's horse, made a consul by the emperor". Caligula's excesses knew no bounds, and he introduced heavy taxation to help pay for his personal expenditure. Our sources just say he was seriously ill for a month. CALIGULA (Latin: Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; [1] 31 August 12 AD - 24 January 41 AD), also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Soon the soldiers gave him the affectionate nickname Caligula, which meant little boots owing to the caligae or small boots that he wore. [42] Cassius Dio said that this act "though delighting the rabble, grieved the sensible, who stopped to reflect, that if the offices should fall once more into the hands of the many many disasters would result". Caligula tricked Macro into believing that he was being made prefect of Egypt and then had him arrested and executed. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. [61] Caligula had planned to rebuild the palace of Polycrates at Samos, to finish the temple of Didymaean Apollo at Ephesus and to found a city high up in the Alps. However, apparently against the odds Caligula recovered from his illness. [130] Chaerea tried to persuade the military to support the Senate. Mausoleum of Augustus: Why Are There No Tombs of Early Roman Emperors? He was tyrannical, possibly insane, and had tendencies towards debauchery and even the merciless taking of life. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. [6] Gaius reportedly grew to dislike the nickname. [57] In 39, Caligula performed a spectacular stunt by ordering a temporary floating bridge to be built using ships as pontoons, stretching for over two miles from the resort of Baiae to the neighbouring port of Puteoli. I cant imagine you will find a definite answer on this. [75] Caligula's move seemingly had a strictly personal political motive fear and jealousy of his cousin Ptolemy and thus the expansion may not have been prompted by pressing military or economic needs. With this in mind Chaerea persuaded his fellow conspirators, who included Marcus Vinicius and Lucius Annius Vinicianus, to put their plot into action quickly. The site of the ships' discovery, Lake Nemi, lies 19 miles south of Rome in the region of Lazio. [94] Caligula responded by removing Flaccus from his position and executing him. It is a small but evocative section of the sprawling Horti Lamiani, imperial gardens that the Roman emperor Caligula, history's most wild and crazy guy, used for his depraved blowouts during his . One of the wrecks included a lead pipe bearing the inscription Property of Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. It is uncertain whether it was Allied or German troopswho cause the fire thatlargely destroyed the ships in 1944. father, Germanicus. Fabius Rusticus was a friend of Seneca who was known for historical embellishment and misrepresentation. Katz, "The Illness of Caligula" CW 65(1972), 223225; refuted by M.G. In books like sherlock holmes and dracula it is merely a nervous breakdown. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. However, the conspirators' attempt to use the opportunity to restore the Roman Republic was thwarted. Philo mentions widespread sacrifice, but no estimation on the degree, Philo of Alexandria. OUR SCHOOL; MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE; ADMISSION. Whether all the cruel acts of Caligula are completely or partially true is a question that remains unanswered. [141] The question of whether Caligula was insane (especially after his illness early in his reign) remains unanswered. Herod Antipas confessed and Caligula exiled him. He is known as the first truly insane emperor that the Roman Empire had. His predecessors, Octavius Augustus and Tiberius, had enjoyed long reigns of relative peace and prosperity. However Caligula had very little practical experience in terms of governing. [119] Suetonius sees the motive in Caligula calling Chaerea derogatory names. Caligula also minted coins in Drusilla's honor (scroll down on this page to see a coin featuring the three sisters of Caligula). P. Bicknell, "The Emperor Gaius' Military Activities in AD 40". For a time, Caligula's efforts met with their . [22] In 35, Caligula was named joint heir to Tiberius' estate along with Tiberius Gemellus. Occasionally he was liable to faintness, during which he remained incapable of any effort". Caligula proved to be quite dangerous for the senators and people of Rome, driven by this sudden change in personality. Representations of epilepsy on the stage: From the Greeks to the 20th century. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. [115] According to Josephus, these actions led to several failed conspiracies against Caligula. He emerged a very different person and would wander his palace throughout the night, his head pounding. A number of factors, though, aggravated this feud. Med Hist. Following the former's death in 37, Caligula succeeded him as emperor. He was crazy both in body and mind, being subject, when a boy, to the falling sickness. While the reliability of these sources is questionable, it is known that during his brief reign, Caligula worked to increase the unconstrained personal power of the emperor, as opposed to countervailing powers within the principate. [58] Later, he began the construction of aqueducts Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus, which Pliny the Elder considered to be engineering marvels. Some people speculate that the illness affected his mind, which is why his personality changed completely. Although Caligula got no further than the English Channel and was murdered soon after, his preparations for the invasion would allow Claudius to begin Romes successful conquest of Britain in 43 A.D. Caligula was only the third Roman emperor, ascending to the imperial throne in 37 AD. [57] He also intended to dig a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece and sent a chief centurion to survey the work. He ordered a number of citizens of Rome murdered under the flimsiest of pretexts, torturing the victims and taking pleasure in their pain. However, according to Josephus, when the ship carrying the statue was still underway, news of Caligula's death reached Petronius. [103] He is accused of sleeping with other men's wives and bragging about it,[104] killing for mere amusement,[105] deliberately wasting money on his bridge, causing starvation,[54] and wanting a statue of himself in the Temple of Jerusalem for his worship. [7], Germanicus died at Antioch, Syria province, in AD19, aged only 33. Can his madness be blamed on this illness? Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. [108] Additionally, they mention affairs with various men including his brother-in-law Marcus Lepidus. R.W. of course the popular view that he was crazy is in itself rather disputed, since 27 bc when augustus establish the princeps and became rome first emperor he held the real power however officialy the republic was "restored". [91] In 38, Caligula sent Agrippa to Alexandria unannounced to check on Flaccus. 9. Caligula ruled over the Roman Empire from 37 to 41 AD in a style that has earned him the descriptors "mad" and "notorious." He was a dictator who set the bar for horrible dictator behavior, a. The cryptoporticus (underground corridor) beneath the imperial palaces on the Palatine Hill where this event took place was discovered by archaeologists in 2008. Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) was Roman emperor from 37 to 41 CE. So, there are chances that some rivals and historians may have incorporated falsehoods and personal biases to defame Caligula. After the death of emperor Tiberius, the great uncle of Caligula, he took over the position as emperor. Caligula awakes from his coma in January 38 C.E. 2008 Dec 3;97(24):1287-91. doi: 10.1024/1661-8157.97.24.1287. [80] The conquest of Britannia was later achieved during the reign of his successor, Claudius. However, the Roman Empire was only as good as the caesar at its heart, and the Romans would soon find out that this could be very, very bad. We thank you for your interest in this question, and your patience in waiting for an in-depth and comprehensive answer to be written, which takes time. Roman territories continued to expand for another 150 years, and wealth poured into the capital. And Tacitus, during a lengthy diatribe in which he accuses Caligulas sister Agrippinawife of the Emperor Claudiusof incest with her son, never implicates her brother. Ancient sources, like Roman biographers Suetonius and Cassius Dio, describe Caligula having a "brain fever." Philo of Alexandria reports it was nothing more than a nervous breakdown, as Caligula was not used to the pressures of constant attention after being out of the public eye for most of his life. Available at:https://www.magellantv.com/articles/sex-and-violence-in-rome-caligulas-empire-and-the-salacious-rumors-that-built-it-. ^ "Addictive stuff. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Publishing Editor. The bulk of what is known of Caligula comes from Suetonius and Cassius Dio. [77] The few primary sources disagree on what precisely occurred. However, evidence of the emperors extravagant lifestyle has surfaced at Lake Nemi, where workers salvaged two massive pleasure bargescomplete with marble dcor, mosaic floors and statuesin the late 1920s and early 1930s. He was accused of raping the wife of one of the eminent senators, and was known to have sexual relationships with his own sisters. He allowed new members into the equestrian and senatorial orders. These days, many historians reject the notion that Caligula terrorized Rome with his unbridled madness, talking to the moon, ordering arbitrary executions and trying to make his horse a consul. Earlier chroniclers who actually lived under Caligula, namely Seneca and Philo, make no mention of this type of behavior despite their harsh criticism of the emperor. [44] Suetonius places the beginning of this crisis in 38. Disclaimer, National Library of Medicine We have records from Herod Agrippa and others who knew him before and after and it seemed like he suffered some sort of brain damage from the fever. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. to the death of the eponymous character, Claudius, through whose eyes all of the action in the series is seen.The series opens with an elderly Claudius penning his memoirs, which tell of the . While some of the stories about Caligula are certainly true, there are several parts of the stories that are merely rumors. Do they mean he came to his senses after 3 months but was still functional enough to eat/drink because without IV he couldn't have survived a coma? He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. [155] This diagnosis is mainly attributed to Caligula's irritability and his "stare" as described by Pliny the Elder. 2016 Apr;57(Pt B):238-42. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.01.008. The problem about power back then there no checks or balances. [10] Agrippina and Caligula's brother, Nero, were banished in 29 on charges of treason. [101] Agrippa finally convinced Caligula to reverse the order. [96] Riots again erupted in Alexandria in 40 between Jews and Greeks. Suetonius said that Caligula had "falling sickness", or epilepsy, when he was young. Indeed, he was represented as a sun god on Egyptian coins. The Germanic guard killed several assassins and conspirators, along with some innocent senators and bystanders. [145] Juvenal reports he was given a magic potion that drove him insane. The disease is found in sub-Saharan Africa and the French West Indies and is characterized by fevers, headache, scabs that form at the site of tick inoculation, and localized lymph node swelling. The conflict eventually led to the destruction of her family, with Caligula as the sole male survivor. [150] Caligula reportedly talked to the full moon:[69] Epilepsy was long associated with the moon.[151]. Supposedly Tiberius knew of this but never dared to do anything about it. His younger sisters were Julia Drusilla, Agrippina the Younger, and Julia Livilla. [121] Caligula would mock Chaerea with names like "Priapus" and "Venus". [2][4] At the age of two or three, Gaius accompanied his father, Germanicus, on campaigns in the north of Germania. He executed close and loyal advisors and compelled Gemellus, his potential rival and fellow joint-heir, to commit suicide. The diagnosis is unclear and impossible to guess. There are few surviving sources about the reign of Caligula, though he is described as a noble and moderate emperor during the first six months of his rule. No mentions of coma it's quite rare condition in fact. Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever Abbreviation: AHFV A tick-borne hemorrhagic fever caused by a flavivirus, first identified on the Arabian peninsula. [122] On 24 January 41,[124] Cassius Chaerea and other guardsmen accosted Caligula as he addressed an acting troupe of young men beneath the palace, during a series of games and dramatics being held for the Divine Augustus. Lake Nemi is a place of astounding natural beauty: situated some 300 metres above sea level, the lake . Caesars adopted son Octavian became the next caesar and the Roman Empire was born. Would you like email updates of new search results? [118] The situation had escalated when, in 40, Caligula announced to the Senate that he planned to leave Rome permanently and to move to Alexandria in Egypt, where he hoped to be worshipped as a living god. Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. Modern historians have put forward numerous theories in an attempt to explain these actions. [128] These wounded conspirators were treated by the physician Arcyon. [84][85], He would appear there on occasion and present himself as a god to the public. Quotes tagged as "caligula" Showing 1-16 of 16. He singlehandedly tore down the empire, drained the treasury and undid most of what . Caligula : If only all of Rome had just one neck. Most years of his youth were spent with Tiberius or in the palace, where he grew up in an unhealthy environment of paranoia and plotting. Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in 12 AD, was the Emperor of Rome between 37 and 41 AD. Helen Mirren in a scene from . [9] Tiberius would not allow Agrippina to remarry for fear her husband would be a rival. There were a number of freedmen in his close circle who attained considerable influence: Helicon, his chamberlain; Apelles, a tragic actor; and most wealthy and powerful of all, Callistus, a kind of imperial secretary. [27][28], Caligula is described as the first emperor who was admired by everyone in "all the world, from the rising to the setting sun. In 1979 the film Caligula, directed by Tinto Brass and starring Malcolm McDowell, shocked the world with its explicit portrayal of the emperors cruel and salacious escapades. Or, faced with absolute power, did he allow himself to be corrupted absolutely? Caligula : I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. But, in the end Rome would not stand for such a leader. At the other end of the spectrum is Emperor Caligula who the historian Suetonius (c. 69 - c. 130/140 CE) simply calls a monster. [54], Despite financial difficulties, Caligula embarked on a number of construction projects during his reign. "[9][16], Caligula claimed to have planned to kill Tiberius with a dagger to avenge his mother and brother: however, having brought the weapon into Tiberius' bedroom he did not kill the Emperor but instead threw the dagger down on the floor. At the start, it looked to be that way. The Death of Caligula (Jan Luyken / Public Domain), https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/caligula-the-embodiment-of-cruelty/, https://www.museumcenter.org/the-curious-curator/2020/6/19/caligula-mad-or-misunderstood, https://www.magellantv.com/articles/sex-and-violence-in-rome-caligulas-empire-and-the-salacious-rumors-that-built-it-. Top Image: What caused Caligulas strange transformation? There are records of Herod Agrippa detailing his relationship with a young Caligula. In 26, Tiberius withdrew from public life to the island of Capri, and in 31, Caligula joined him there. There are several details in Caligula's biography that support this argument. Please leave feedback on this test message here. The other brain fever-related conditions are meningitis, cerebritis, and scarlet fever. [78] The mission may have been to accept the surrender of the British chieftain Adminius. Tacitus provides some information on Caligula's life under Tiberius. May be added. Davies, "The Abortive Invasion of Britain by Gaius". Although the prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Macro, had been influential in helping Caligula secure the throne, the emperor apparently felt that Macro was becoming too powerful. This renowned 1976 mini-series (based on the books I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves) follows the history of The Roman Empire, from the latter reign of Augustus (starting around 24/23 B.C.) [35][36] Caligula collected and brought back the bones of his mother and of his brothers and deposited their remains in the tomb of Augustus. All Rights Reserved. Abandoned Lifeboat on Bouvet Island: Mystery Solved! Conditions that may be described as brain fever include:Encephalitis, an acute inflammation of the brain, commonly caused by a viral infection.Meningitis, the inflammation of the membranes. [116] Eventually, officers within the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea succeeded in murdering the emperor. [69] Soon after his break with the Senate, Caligula faced a number of additional conspiracies against him. Pearn, "Epilepsy and Drowning in Childhood,". Upon recovering, Caligula had permanently lost his hair and apparently his mind; extremely high fevers are known to cause brain damage that alters personality and mental function, and the result is very seldom an improvement. [33] Caligula's first acts were said to be generous in spirit, though many were political in nature. But assuming the much-maligned emperor was the loon his chroniclers describe, some scholars have suggested that an illness made him come unhingedpossibly temporal lobe epilepsy, hyperthyroidism or Wilsons disease, an inherited disorder that can cause mental instability. Caesar installed himself as perpetual dictator, as an emergency action in response to a perceived crisis. Accept Read More, Two Roman Emperors With a Social Conscience, Roman Concrete: Volcanic Material Created An Empire. However, it's unclear if all "brain fevers" had their roots in contagion. 2019 Jul 1;9(7):e027892. The facts and circumstances of Caligula's reign are mostly lost to history. I just watched Roman Empire, excuse any misinformation I interpreted from the show if it's not entirely accurate (I enjoyed it though). The Mystery of the Bermagui Five, (In Pics) Six Abandoned Insane Asylums: Dungeons for the Helpless. And why not? A Net Inceptions project. p. 111. [70] A conspiracy involving his brother-in-law was foiled in late 39. He began to order the assassination of anyone whom he believed posed a threat. Caligula: a neuropsychiatric explanation of his madness. [97] Jews were accused of not honouring the emperor. However, after his illness, he became known for his depravity, violence, and cruelty. [27] He accepted the powers of the principate and entered Rome on 28 March amid a crowd that hailed him as "our baby" and "our star", among other nicknames. Therefore speculations about madness are fruitless, as they can't be proven. Gaetulicus, a poet, produced a number of flattering writings about Caligula, but they are lost. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a God. It's easy to see how this description might have come about. He adorned the horse with various honors as well as awards, and ultimately decided to make Incitatus the head of the Senate. One of the Roman Empire's most notorious characters was its third emperor, Caligula. Caligula was accosted in his palace on 24 January, 41 AD by officers of his Praetorian guard, and stabbed to death. PMC In the manner of the eastern monarchs, Caligula had Drusilla deified; she was the first Roman woman ever officially declared a deity, but her divinity did not survive his reign because he had so egregiously flouted Roman precedent (in contrast, when Claudius had Livia deified, he emphasized her role as diva Augusta, wife and mother of emperors). Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. So, he may have decided to punish people who were a threat to him and his position. It looks like he suffered some kind of brain damage from this extended sicknessmaybe a prolonged high fever, but that's just my guess. The Senate had become accustomed to ruling without an emperor between the departure of Tiberius for Capri in 26 and Caligula's accession. government site. [149] Epileptics are discouraged from swimming in open waters because unexpected fits can lead to death if timely rescue is difficult. [99] Once, at some games at which he was presiding, he was said to have ordered his guards to throw an entire section of the audience into the arena during the intermission to be eaten by the wild beasts because there were no prisoners to be used and he was bored. In Rome, another statue of himself, of colossal size, was made of gilt brass for the purpose.