what was caligula's brain fever

Caligula is often remembered as a selfish and capricious ruler whose ineptitude weakened the Roman empire during his four-year reign. Caligula fell ill from fever at the same time as his wife's pregnancy with a daughter, and he would recover; however, Julia Drusilla collapsed from fever as his daughter Drusilla the Younger was born in a public ceremony. 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. [145] Juvenal reports he was given a magic potion that drove him insane. AutoModerator 3 yr. ago Welcome to r/AskHistorians. 2016 Apr;57(Pt B):238-42. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.01.008. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027892. For the first six months he was a good ruler, but that all changed when he became ill with what was described at the time as a "brain fever." After his illness, Caligula became a vicious tyrant. 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. [citation needed]. [155] This diagnosis is mainly attributed to Caligula's irritability and his "stare" as described by Pliny the Elder. 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. He emerged a very different person and would wander his palace throughout the night, his head pounding. There is some evidence that his assassination had political motives, and that some of the assassins sought advancement for themselves in the removal of Caligula. p. 111. [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. One of his insane acts was the idea of making a horse a Senator. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. Philo mentions widespread sacrifice, but no estimation on the degree, Philo of Alexandria. Such a move would have left both the Senate and the Praetorian Guard powerless to stop Caligula's repression and debauchery. [120] Caligula considered Chaerea effeminate because of a weak voice and for not being firm with tax collection. Recent sources say that Caligula probably had encephalitis. [44], According to Cassius Dio, a financial crisis emerged in 39. "[18] In 33, Tiberius gave Caligula an honorary quaestorship, a position he held until his rise to emperor. now it's seem caligula prefer to end this deception and establish an eastern-hellenistic style absolute monarchy, now some [93] As a result, riots broke out in the city. [10] Agrippina and Caligula's brother, Nero, were banished in 29 on charges of treason. March, 37 CE: At about 25 years old, Caligula was named Rome's third emperor, the first direct descendant of Augustus to take the throne (click here for a coin on which Caligula emphasizes this relationship). But if his leadership skills were so abysmal, some scholars have argued, how did he wind up annexing new provinces, expanding westward and formulating a feasible plan to take over Britain? Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! All Rights Reserved. Caligula's death marked the official end of the Julii Caesares in the male line, though the Julio-Claudian dynasty continued to rule until the demise of his nephew, Nero. ^ Birmingham Mail (5 May 2013). [50] Centurions who had acquired property by plunder were forced to turn over spoils to the state. The prospect of Rome losing its emperor and thus its political power was the final straw for many. Afterward, his behavior changed. [141] The question of whether Caligula was insane (especially after his illness early in his reign) remains unanswered. [58] Later, he began the construction of aqueducts Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus, which Pliny the Elder considered to be engineering marvels. Disclaimer, National Library of Medicine "Many of the symptoms and the post-mortem evidence were consistent with some forms of meningitis or encephalitis," writes Peterson. [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. [57] He had new roads built and pushed to keep roads in good condition. Later in the year Caligula's favorite sister, Drusilla, died; he had been so close to her that there were rumors of incest. He was . [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. [89], Caligula needed to quell several riots and conspiracies in the eastern territories during his reign. He was all-powerful under the new Roman order, he could do what he wanted, and so he did. Before made in China was a shorthand for crappy How musty and stinky were 1800s ballroom parties? 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. Everyone was prepared for the worst when Caligula fell ill. [75] This campaign is derided by ancient historians with accounts of Gauls dressed up as Germanic tribesmen at his triumph and Roman troops ordered to collect seashells as "spoils of the sea". [106][107], While repeating the earlier stories, the later sources of Suetonius and Cassius Dio provide additional tales of insanity. Caligula also made a significant attempt at expanding into Britannia. Gaetulicus, a poet, produced a number of flattering writings about Caligula, but they are lost. There are a number of speculations about what the illness exactly was. 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. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. 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. 2019 Jul 1;9(7):e027892. Caligulas edicts became more and more arbitrary and capricious in nature, and baffled his Senate. [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. But, after his recovery, there was a striking change in his behavior. He became increasingly erratic and cruel. Mental health of UK Members of Parliament in the House of Commons: a cross-sectional survey. [8] After the death of his father, Caligula lived with his mother, Agripinna the Elder, until her relations with Tiberius deteriorated. [50] The current and past highway commissioners were accused of incompetence and embezzlement and forced to repay money. [46] Historians describe a number of Caligula's other desperate measures. While some sources state that it was a kind of brain fever, others believe it could be a virus, lead poisoning, or even an assassination attempt. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. Before Praxis (Bern 1994). | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. [109][110] They state he sent troops on illogical military exercises,[75][111] turned the palace into a brothel,[47] and, most famously, planned or promised to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul,[112][113] [100], The Governor of Syria, Publius Petronius, fearing civil war if the order were carried out, delayed implementing it for nearly a year. At this During the 69AD Roman Civil War, four Roman Legions Press J to jump to the feed. [98] Jews were angered by the erection of a clay altar and destroyed it. [98] In response, Caligula ordered the erection of a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem,[99] a demand in conflict with Jewish monotheism. ago Caligula: a neuropsychiatric explanation of his madness. Gebbie & Co. 1889. [19] Meanwhile, both Caligula's mother and his brother Drusus died in prison. So, there are chances that some rivals and historians may have incorporated falsehoods and personal biases to defame Caligula. [114], Caligula's actions as emperor were described as being especially harsh to the Senate, to the nobility and to the equestrian order. [127] By the time Caligula's loyal Germanic guard responded, the Emperor was already dead. Macro had fallen out of favor with the emperor, probably due to an attempt to ally himself with Gemellus when it appeared that Caligula might die of fever. Caligula : If only all of Rome had just one neck. Mausoleum of Augustus: Why Are There No Tombs of Early Roman Emperors? So it was that Caligula's place in Roman history was secured. I just watched Roman Empire, excuse any misinformation I interpreted from the show if it's not entirely accurate (I enjoyed it though). The larger ship was essentially an elaborate floating palace with marble floors and plumbing. Ancient sources, like Suetonius and Cassius Dio, describe Caligula having a "brain fever". 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? "Before the . On the day of the assassination of Caligula, the Praetorians declared Caligula's uncle, Claudius, as the next emperor. Admission & Withdrawal After his illness, his personality completely changed. Katz, "The Illness of Caligula" CW 65(1972), 223225; refuted by M.G. 38 CE: Early in the year, Caligula forced his father-in-law, Gaius Silanus, and young Gemellus, grandson of Tiberius, to commit suicide by accusing them of treasonable activities. Therefore speculations about madness are fruitless, as they can't be proven. Suetonius: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars; An English Translation, Augmented with the Biographies of Contemporary Statesmen, Orators, Poets, and Other Associates. [63] This act was in defiance of a prediction by Tiberius' soothsayer Thrasyllus of Mendes that Caligula had "no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Bay of Baiae". [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. 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". And so, when the respected general Germanicus brought his son Gaius on campaign, the tyke sported soldiers footwear, or caligae, scaled down to his size. After this, the sources focus upon his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion, presenting him as an insane tyrant. Like none, so you could be very corrupt and end up assainated. Poulter D, Votruba N, Bakolis I, Debell F, Das-Munshi J, Thornicroft G. BMJ Open. He was the son of Germanicus and the future emperor spent his early years on military campaigns with his father. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Augustus' granddaughter Agrippina the Elder. [92] According to Philo, the visit was met with jeers from the Greek population who saw Agrippa as the king of the Jews. Whether all the cruel acts of Caligula are completely or partially true is a question that remains unanswered. A Net Inceptions project. [84] The Temple of Castor and Pollux on the forum was linked directly to the imperial residence on the Palatine and dedicated to Caligula. The .gov means its official. She is said to have committed suicide, although Suetonius hints that Caligula poisoned her. 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. Photo by Thomas Quine CC By 2.0. "[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. Dictys of Crete: Was There a War Reporter Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Battle of Culloden. "Dr Who star David Tennant given his big break by Midland theatre boss". ), most commonly known as Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from 37 C.E. [130] Chaerea tried to persuade the military to support the Senate. Claudius was Caligula's uncle. [66] In 39, relations between Caligula and the Roman Senate deteriorated. 2016 Apr ; 57 ( Pt B ):238-42. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.01.008 often remembered as a selfish capricious. Drusus died in prison him as an insane tyrant his illness, his personality completely changed needed... 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