Was Caligula Insane?

Caligula made his horse consul, tried to make love to the Moon, and sent his soldiers to gather seashells by the seashore - or did he? As we'll see in this video, the Caligula of popular imagination may be far removed from the historical emperor.
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Chapters:
0:00 Caligula's bridge
1:30 The reign of Caligula
2:40 Established Titles
4:00 Decadence and cruelty
5:00 The emperor's eccentricities
5:45 Caligula's madness
6:37 Assassination, character assassination
7:43 Rumors of incest
8:19 Caligula's horse
8:57 Warring with the ocean
10:02 Explaining the bridge
10:37 Glimpsing Caligula

[@rickb3078]

Every time I am at cross roads in my life I always ask myself: What would Caligula do?

[@t.wcharles2171]

Marry your sister and make a duck the beneficiary of your will.

[@mitchellandersen9199]

So when did you start liking femboys?

[@MalleusIudaeorum]

@@mitchellandersen9199 *literal kids

[@peregrine-fu]

Probably make his horse a senator

[@jpaulc441]

Caligula is my spirit animal

[@Renwoxing13]

Historians : He suggested he make a horse his consul. Caligula : “ You are all so useless I might as well elect my horse as consul” ⚫️ Rumor : Caligula made his horse a consul. Lmfao !

[@semoremo9548]

right? I would've burst out laughing if I had heard him say that to be honest, but historians and people in general saying he actually made his horse a consul, or seriously suggested it, takes the fun out of it. All the bad things he did aside, he was kind of hilarious.

[@GAIVSCALIGVLA]

Finally someone speaks the truth.

[@kaloarepo288]

It's very similar to 2 other allegations made about historical figures - (1) That king Canute (Knut) the Viking king of England claimed he could control the tides and (2) That queen Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake.' Both are taken out of context for partisan reasons - Canute was demonstrating to a flatterer that he couldn't control the tide and Marie Antoinette was referring to brioche not cake - brioche is a type of fortified bread that was actually quite available at the time and was quite cheap and nutritious whereas bread was temporarily in short supply.

[@booksteer7057]

An early example of Fake News. 😅

[@AmericanIlluminati]

"Don't forget, I can do what I want." I think that statement describes his mentality perfectly. He was drunk on his own power & authority, and life became essentially a game for him. It's not that he was crazy, but rather he thought to himself, "but, who's going to tell me no?"

[@MrFredstt]

Too bad he didn't think of the fact that if he didn't take the needs of his citizens seriously to some extent that at some point he would have no allies and he would be forcibly removed from power. I wonder if that's what crossed his mind during his dying breath

[@merrittanimation7721]

⁠@@MrFredsttTo be fair it’s not so much the average citizen he alienated rather than the elites since they were in closer proximity to him.

[@michyoung77]

One of his most famous quotes is "Who cares if they respect me? So long as they fear me."

[@AmericanIlluminati]

@@michyoung77 Absolute power, corrupts absolutely.

[@kaiserwigglesiii2369]

Of all the things this channel has taught me, the fact that our ancestors thought and acted like us today is among the top. I can’t shake the feeling that Caligula just didn’t give a damn, a laissez-faire, bored, unrestricted “troll”. The disregard for human life aside, the stories all give off a sense of modern day sarcasm, or have some layer of irony.

[@fruitygarlic3601]

Yes. The seashell story always struck me as someone using the imperial power to mess around. He may have ordered the most powerful force in the region to get up to whimsical holiday activities during an invasion, just because it would have been funny.

[@viderevero1338]

He was a 4channer born too soon.

[@cassiecasiano2500]

He was a performance artist.

[@whatinthefudge5346]

It was better bc races weren't mixed we obviously weren't supposed to mix that's why we are different races

[@Lightice1]

@@fruitygarlic3601 The most plausible explanation for the shell collecting I've heard was that Caligula wanted to invade Britain but the legions refused, and knowing that he would get murdered if he pressed the issue he instead decided to humiliate them by making them collect the shells and present them as bounty of their nonexistant "campaign". Refusing to do something as simple would have ridiculed the legionnaires just as much as doing it, so either way, Caligula got his petty revenge.

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

Caligula's eccentricities were so great that they reached even the farthest reaches of the Empire. For example, in Judea, he attempted to introduce a statue of himself into the Great Jewish Temple, which caused enormous outrage and resistance from the Jews. Had Caligula not been assassinated shortly after ordering the statue's transfer to Jerusalem, it would have sparked a full-scale Jewish revolt. If you are interested, the Anthony Burgess novel "The Kingdom of the Wicked" and the series "A.D." (which portrays the most degenerate and insane Caligula ever conceived) recount this event. Highly recommended

[@leoribic1691]

I haven't seen A.D. yet, but surely he can't be worse anywhere than he is in the 1979 movie? I'm going to watch it!

[@fieracarmen4713]

Vorbiți despre Caligula în așa fel,de parcă l-ați văzut personal și știți sigur,ce fel de om era!Eu cred că a fost o victimă mult mai mult, decât tiran!

[@phnexOice]

One note I’d like to add is that it’s very likely Caligula was deeply traumatized by his childhood, ranging from the death of his father to what seems to be political assassination, to the show trials of his mother and brothers, and then being used as little more than a pawn by his uncle, the emperor, him going mad from this trauma wouldn’t exactly surprise most, as it’s likely all of us in the same position would do the same

[@jmd1743]

That sounds like he was just being spiteful toward the demographics who were in his childhood. He was 24 years of age when he took over which is not that many years from teenage rage. There was this girl who had a rich goldman sach's executive father. She went to a high dollar college & in order to rebel she smoked some weed while attending. She was arrested and then her father cut her off from the wealth. When she turned 18 she went to a infamous porn film studio that was famous for the most nasty type of content, think " two girls - one cup". When her porn content got out her father did everything he could to get off of the internet. He spent millions of dollars trying to get it removed off the internet with no sucsess.

[@yippee8570]

Nah that's bollocks

[@a2pabmb2]

@Maniac 5000 When was that ever suggested? We're certainly not going to give you any.

[@rudi_tabootie]

@Maniac 5000 mhm good solution. treat psychopaths like a psychopath would. good idea

[@MadProphet]

@@jmd1743 pics or it didn't happen

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

6:37 Of all the depictions of Caligula's death, the best without any doubt is the one represented in the infamous 1979 movie. In this version, Caligula has long been aware that Chaerea wants to kill him. However, he doesn't move a finger because he actually wants to die in order to see his beloved sister Drusilla again, being his desire to become a God just a pathetic attempt to fill the void he has in his heart. Finally, Caligula realizes the day of his assassination that he already has a happy life with Caesonia and their child. Caligula then confronts Chaerea, ready to apologize to him in order to become the good Emperor he was, at first, destined to be. However, Caligula's unconditional love for his dead sister makes him insult Chaerea again, causing the latter to murder him and the Emperor's family. As the final credits roll on, we watch Caligula's dead face contemplating the high cost he paid in order to see Drusilla again

[@michaeldunne338]

That movie was Bob Guccione's. Tinto Brass disavowed the project in the end.

[@curiodyssey3867]

Latter** Not 'later'

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

@@michaeldunne338 He still directed the majority of the footage of the films so, disavowing it or not, it will be always a film of his

[@michaeldunne338]

​@@OptimusMaximusNeroHe shot much film. Guccione noted that Brass shot enough film for the original Ben Hur,. 50 times over. I believe controversy centers around post-production and editing, which turned out to be a protracted, tangled affair, lasting several years. Brass would later be credited just for principle photography, while a generic "production" team is credited for putting the movie together.

[@gigipaints1302]

O9oo9ooo

[@massthetics1013]

Caligula's Horse is a solid band with some really good albums front to back. Stoked they got a mention here!

[@honjon666]

Dang, I have thought Diocletian's Horse would be cool band name, i guess Caligula's Horse is cool too though lol, I'll have to check them out!

[@2e826]

Haha I was caught off guard when he said it because it’s what I was thinking about

[@massthetics1013]

I would recommend their album "In Contact" to start with. Enjoy!

[@KK-qm1mr]

Caligula sounds like a modern billionaire with a better sense of style.

[@kaloarepo288]

I think the writings of Suetonius are extremely suspect -he was a tabloid type sensationalist writing for another dynasty and blackening the reputation of the previous Julio-Claudians

[@joshuaharper372]

If course Suetonius is writing tabloid sensationalism--that's why he is so fun to read. That's also why it is important to try to read behind the text or between the lines. But when there's as much reported smoke as there is with darling "Little Boots", I suspect there was at least some fire...

[@reeyees50]

Thank you for admitting the obvious, even back then they had comical yellow press propaganda

[@NathanDudani]

​@@joshuaharper372 iF cOuRsE

[@jasondashney]

If I said something to you today, nobody would take it seriously. If I wrote it in a letter to you 400 years ago, and somebody found it, it would be shown as evidence and people would claim the things I said were fact.

[@mordecaitoth6703]

Great video as always but the unimaginable abuse Caligula allegedly suffered during his upbringing from Tiberius seems often ignored. I hope you will do more videos about both Caligula and Tiberius in the future.

[@Dan_Kanerva]

average American take: > is never someone's fault... is always the parents

[@knitterscheidt]

wouldn't any person who lived under the constant threat of a horrific death since childhood, witnessed his father's execution and other atrocities be a bit ruthless? was he really more insane than Tiberius?

[@mordecaitoth6703]

@@Dan_Kanerva At no point did I absolve Caligula of the evil of his deeds. The video is a discussion of his supposed insanity and it is well understood that childhood abuse negatively impacts cognitive development. Have a nice, perfectly sane day.

[@Dan_Kanerva]

@@mordecaitoth6703 you are correct tho , traumas caused by bad parenting was very overlooked all the way throught history until the last 2 centuries... i am not surprised how many insane people where key parts of old society

[@redplanet7163]

@@Dan_Kanerva Indeed, Caligula's behaviour cannot be understood without regarding his time on the Isle of Capri with Tiberius. And what had happened to his family members in the years before that. It's no wonder he was a very disturbed individual!

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

The look on the horse's face at 8:24 is priceless.

[@benrobertson7855]

@JZ's BFF Yass ifss obverlsss….piss me aanotheerrrssss..nnaaayyy.hic.

[@jonscaplan]

Established Titles is a scam. Having them as a sponsor hurts the credibility of your very excellent channel. It is difficult to see this appear alongside such well researched and thoughtfully presented videos.

[@laurensb1b]

I'm glad im not the only one thinking this. Especially for a history channel, you expect the uploader to do his due diligence and check sources. If he couldn't figure out Established Titles is a scam how can i trust the rest of his information.

[@saartnomsky4523]

He still needs to make money idiot

[@jadeharley8640]

No one was talking about Established Titles being a scam until a few weeks after this video was posted. MOST KZbinrs did not know it was a scam at the time, and I'm willing to bet neither of you knew either. Toldinstone is still a perfectly credible channel (as credible as a random KZbin video can be, at least), they just made a mistake that tons of intelligent creators on this site also seem to have made. It's fine to call out Established Titles, I just don't understand attacking a creator's credibility because you didn't actually look at the upload date.

[@livrowland171]

@@jadeharley8640 uploaded this November?? I've known it or similar products are a scam/joke for many years! It's pretty obvious to anyone with any legal knowledge that you obtain no official, legal ownership of any land and no noble title that would be formally recognised by any government any more than one you just awarded yourself..

[@nick.p.9328]

@@saartnomsky4523 so then money > dignity, right? Careful with the name calling, you might end up the one ;)

[@cerberus6654]

In the whole 'what if?' thing, I have often wondered what kind of Emperor Germanicus would have made. Probably one of the best. But Roman imperial succession stories are, to me, a lot like 'Survivor'. I always start off a season thinking "He should win!", or "She's going to win for sure!" but by the time I get to the final three I'm usually amazed at who actually survived, much less who won.

[@merrittanimation7721]

When one emperor (Claudius) becomes emperor mostly because he's the only adult male in the family left, regardless of actual qualifications, it's indicative of a fairly unpleasant series of events.

[@cerberus6654]

@@merrittanimation7721 True!

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

Germanicus as Princeps is the stuff romaboo wet dreams are made of

[@michaeldunne338]

Germanicus could have ended up a failure. However, he had campaign experience that was relatively extensive for a person of his age by the time he died - as commander of forces in Germannia for 4 years (AD 13 to AD 17), but also from military and administrative experience going back to AD 17. He made mistakes, and maybe violated certain Roman taboos and rules (handle remains while technically a priest of a college that was not permitted to do that, and having a fleet badly roughed up by weather on the North Seat; visit Egypt without Tiberius' permission), but seems he won the admiration of the soldiers and earned the right to command in their eyes (imperator). In a counterfactual of survival in the East, he may have been able to evolve or reach a new accommodation with Tiberius and prove a successful emperor after the long reign of Tiberius (AD 14 to 37 - about 23 year).He didn't revolt at the start of Tiberius' reign when the legions revolt, and it is uncertain if he could have changed his mind and revolted while in the East, or after another assignment. Its always possible that years of service to the state could lead to a situation of eroding his judgement, morals, constraints ... but data is lacking.

[@cerberus6654]

@@michaeldunne338 Well put!

[@MonkeyspankO]

50% propaganda, 25% historical fog of time, 25% methods of conducting oneself shared by most roman rulers.

[@jasondashney]

Nailed it. It always shocks me that historian, after historian will be so sure of themselves as far as historical matters go, especially when there isn't a mountain of evidence for most things. How people can look at the news today and see the same event covered so differently by all sides, and not realize that history was like that as well is beyond me. It's like we all assume that humans were perfectly objective and without bias and always factual and never wrong hundreds or thousands of years ago. Everything they say is gospel.

[@CorollaLvr2000]

Any chance for a video about the Roman Republic? I'd love to see a video about Cincinnatus, for example.

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

The Republic was the best period of time in Roman history. The Empire was the ruine of Rome

[@siner2442]

I guess the better question would be: “Was there a method, to his Madness”? Also most Kings and Pharoas is to be remembered and not forgotten, it’s a fear for them and see it as if they never existed. Although he is remembered for the crazy things that he did, but other than that he did pretty much the same things as every other Emperor did… they were all known for responding with extreme measures to questions they would ask themselves. Killing friends,family,anybody who’s a threat to the throne or that could overthrow them and even wiping out everybody around them so no one can get revenge. They “Heavy is the Head who wears the crown” but paranoia is uncontrollable. This is why they say it’s lonely at the top.

[@weilandiv8310]

He was only in one big film, and then we never heard from him again.

[@michaeldunne338]

In Europe they did, with a Laura Gemser film, on Caligula the Untold Story ...

[@da90sReAlvloc]

No he wasn't he's in another big film called demitrius and the gladiator. Caligula character is in there as well

[@dennisphillips7589]

Another great video. Also really enjoy your podcasts - hoping you upload some more soon!

[@toldinstone]

Stay tuned...

[@arzhvr9259]

It’s very difficult to believe anything good or bad said about the Julio Claudians because the histories were written by senators who judged good and bad based on how they acquiesced to the old Roman aristocracy. That said Germanicus would have been a great ruler

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

The senators had every reason to hate the Empire. The republic under the senators was Rome's best period. The emperors deprived them of power and at the same time heralded the fall of Rome.

[@MalleusIudaeorum]

@@renatovonschumacher3511 false. It was corrupt and became so bloated with bureaucratic roadblocks by the time of the late republic that nothing could get done. The republic could never have carried on as it was indefinitely. The Roman Empire was infinitely more successful than the Republic by every measure and saw its greatest periods of expansion and financial growth.

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

@@MalleusIudaeorum YOU are wrong. Totally wrong. You could not be more wrong. WRONG ! !

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

@@MalleusIudaeorum You can compare it with modern times. The peak of European culture was the 18th century with a short revival between 1870 and 1914. The 20th century reversed everything and heralded the decline and soon to be end of Europe.The peak of Roman culture was the Republic. The empire initiated the decline, followed soon by the end.

[@merrittanimation7721]

@@renatovonschumacher3511 How to say you're a Prussian fanboy without actually saying it

[@davidmajer3652]

Thanks for another excellent video, we always get the straight dope from you.

[@broadh2o980]

Not having the Tacitus to balance the Suetonius really hurts Who honestly knows what happened. There is actually epigraphic evidence supporting the bridge story, and the amount of shipping boats that were ported there during the non-sailing season was immense. I had a professor convince me that this one actually happened. But I do think he was crazy. Nero on the other hand, is the victim of a total propaganda hit job from the ancient sources that still survives in popular culture today. #Nerodidnothingwrong (well he probably did kill his mother)

[@MrFredstt]

Really? Nero is often the other Emperor touted as the most evil person in history. I'd like to hear more about how there may be more nuance to it

[@HeatherAngus-vj2jq]

No Caligula was worse as he committed more financial waste and carnage than even that of Nero. Caligula is considered the worst of the ancient world and Hitler is of all time the most evil person in the world.

[@andrewnorris7642]

Caligula was and remained relatively sane considering all he had to endure. He grew up with tiberius, who was also pretty cruel. Lead poisoning may have fucked him up a bit but at the end of the day he was just human with depravity, dispite having had the world

[@toserveman9265]

Empathy is misdirected

[@siner2442]

U have to fight the World in order to keep it… remember anything worth having in this World, people will fighting u for it, so u have to fight to keep it.

[@HeatherAngus-vj2jq]

How dare you justify somebody THAT evil and insane? That’s like feeling sorry for and admiring Hitler! Just because you have gone through some horrible stuff, doesn’t give you or anybody for that matter the right to do the most horrible things ever! How could you think such great things about a Roman emperor who was THE most hated and feared upon?

[@jbb4105]

He was just ahead of his time

[@markcarson1844]

Bravo, great video again!!!

[@cgavin1]

TIL that "Eccentriciies = beating a man to death with chains or having prisoners bled dry with dozens of tiny cuts."

[@necropolistc6357]

being the inventor of the "pleasure cruise" and the "orgy pit" isn't crazy its genius

[@MrFredstt]

😂😂😂

[@thomastaylor6699]

🤢 He was a sick, vile leader.

[@teaqeri]

you’re a excellent youtuber thank you for the content.

[@ricardorodriguez-mi2zv]

The clear disregard for human life seals it for me....insane it is

[@bigbasil1908]

Established Titles is a scam.

[@optomix3988]

Thank you for your videos. I really enjoy them and the little history lessons on one of my favorite periods of time.

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

Your favorite period of time ? Are you aware that this periode marked the decline and fall of the Romans ? The best time of the Romans was during the Republic when the senators, the Roman aristocracy, ruled. The Empire ruined it all. The end of Rome also meant a setback of 1.000 years in European history. Your favorite period of time ? Are you sure ? You may also be one of those who admire the present day ruines for which the Emperors are responsible. Your favorite period of time ? Are you really sure ?

[@jaelge]

@@renatovonschumacher3511: Quite the judgy little KZbin comments Karen aren´t you? Imperial times of Rome happens to be my favorite era of study as well, would you like to bawl me out as well?

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

@@jaelge Your favorite period of study does not mean that it was also the best period in Roman history, no matter how much you love this period of decadence.

[@jaelge]

@@renatovonschumacher3511: Pretty sure that´s what Optomix was saying irrespective of the fact that he didn't phrase it precisely to your satisfaction. But even if it is someone´s favorite era, so what? As opposed to what you may think Julius Ceasar´s and Augustus's times was some of the most peaceful and prosperous times to have been a Roman. And for me, the most interesting.

[@renatovonschumacher3511]

@@jaelge Yes, Julius and Augustus and a few more appear in a positive light. It was not them who ruined Rome buth the dozens of other emperors and the imperial system as such that more and more turned against tradition and against the old elite that built and prospered Rome. The new imperial elite was a bunch of nouveau riche who were not interested in the continuity of ancient Roman culture. Parallels to today's world come to mind.

[@RonJohn63]

2:51 I was just watching a LegalEagle video on Established Titles.... LOL.

[@noahlogue3807]

You never covered his time in Capri where Tiberius showed Caligula the joys of torture and depravity.

[@spankflaps1365]

Caligula is also featured in the 1950’s movies “The Robe” and “Demetrius & the Gladiators” (well worth a watch).

[@jbug1979]

This is the best part: 8:15 "Caligula's relations with his relations." 😋

[@end.olives]

See you got baited by the established titles scam too

[@darkstarZ74]

Suetonius portrayed all the emperors before Nerva and Trajan as mad tyrants outside of Augustus of course.

[@metalhigh0043]

There's a restaurant near me called Little Boots...Ive always called it Caligulas.

[@ATtravel666]

It would have been really surprising if Caligula had turned out to be a well rounded Emperor considering his violent family background. His family was destroyed by jealousy, paranoia and ambition.

[@VerilyViscous]

It'd be the second surprise I would learn about the Julio-Claudians. The first, of course, is that Claudius was actually a competent emperor, so much so that I'd say he was only eclipsed by Augustus.

[@ATtravel666]

@@VerilyViscous The problem with Claudius was his visible disabilities in a world where they had extremely negative connotations, everybody thought he was an idiot. Which ironically, is probably how he survived the family bloodbath under Augustus (think the two Julias and Agrippa Postumus and especially under Tiberius.

[@ultra-papasmurf]

@@VerilyViscous Claudius as the second best empire I feel is putting too much value into the early empire. His greatest accomplishment Britannia ended up a gigantic burden once the tin and gold mines ran dry and there are far more contenders for said spot

[@mrshts]

"Enhance!" I love it.

[@monicacall7532]

Perfect timing because I watched the Caligula episodes of “I Claudius” today. Thanks for a different look at Caligula. It gave depth to his story.

[@JOEFABULOUS.]

Coughing irritated him 😉

[@jaybee9269]

Nah, he just wanted to cure the boy’s cough…

[@acey850]

The captions on the pictures are HILARIOUS

[@DavidFraser007]

It it just a coincidence that Caligula and King Joffrey from Game of Thrones have more than a passing similarity in appearance?

[@jellyfishjig]

Nope

[@merrittanimation7721]

GRRM has stated that Stannis was partially inspired by Tiberius (as he appeared in the I, Claudius BBC show) so it's probable.

[@mrgaudy1954]

Aren’t there also “5 good kings” in ASOIAF to mirror the “5 good emperors”?

[@hfsk123]

I was about to comment that Gleason kid could play the hell out of Caligula

[@GravesRWFiA]

What I've heard about the 'madness' was that it was focused on the upper class, that he was humiliating them to play to the masses. the idea of a horse as council would fit in that line too. the problem was that he also turned his 'humor' on his guards who expressed their displeasure.

[@robbabcock_]

Fascinating!

[@ericvosselmans5657]

Beautiful. Just beautiful

[@franklinsterling8787]

Dear Gaius, another master of hubris beside Gein, suffered from Grave's Disease and had Episodes of Occupational Delirium, he worked so hard on his sass!

[@sotony7483]

Didn't Caligula's successor Claudius describe him as 'deranged' in a public document after his assassination? It seems quite unlikely for Caligula's unclde to say that officially about his dynastic predecessor unless perhaps reluctantly acknowledging a widely-accepted fact known to everyone at the time.

[@semoremo9548]

If he wanted to distance himself from the bad image Caligula had given the figure of emperors, I find it more than reasonable that he would've cursed him out no matter if it was true or not. If everyone hated Caligula, and Claudius wanted to clean up the emperor image, then he would've gone with the flow and agreed with them.

[@sotony7483]

@@semoremo9548 Yes, possibly, but many emperors managed to distance themselves from their predecessors' acts and policies without stating publically they were deranged. It's an odd thing to say out loud about a member of your own family (and a former consular colleague) unless everyone knew it was true anyway and it was an inescapable reality that had to be acknowledged to be able to move on. I do accept more generally that the 'mad emperor' motif is overemployed in popular culture for others (e.g. Nero), but for young Gaius and his traumatic background it's all too believable. For example, at 25 he was at pretty much the peak male age for schizophrenia onset, which would have had a 1% prevalance in the population then as now.

[@semoremo9548]

@@sotony7483 Tbh yeah they were family but like... it's not like that family was healthy or normal anyways so I don't actually find it weird that he said that about Caligula. I'm not saying there was no chance that the being "crazy" allegations hold no truth or aren't likely, but I also wouldn't be surprised if it was just a group of wealthy people trying to smear his image (more than his other heinous acts had already smeared it lol)

[@bradwatson7324]

Power tends to corrupt -- sometimes so much that the corruption appears to be insanity.

[@HeatherAngus-vj2jq]

It’s not power itself. It’s the person behind the power. Just like it’s not the gun or car itself that kills people. It’s the people with the gun or car. Same thing with power and wealth.

[@ritchierichh]

1:30 - I don't know if it's that simple to just concluded he was insane. Wasn't there an oracle by the name of Thrasyllus of Mendes who prophesied that Caligula had no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Bay of Baiae? And in that, he used his opportunity and power to cross the bay?

[@toldinstone]

That's one of the three explanations Suetonius gives for why Caligula built the bridge. It's impossible to say now, of course, whether there's any truth in it.

[@ritchierichh]

@@toldinstone I feel they should've been mentioned at least rather than directly stating Caligula was insane.

[@MarcusAgrippa390]

@@ritchierichh I just finished watching the video, and honestly, Garrett never once said that Caligula was insane. He quoted references and sources that said Caligula was insane and when he did so it was clear that it was the source which made the statement. And at the end he concluded with pretty much the same thing as your comment.

[@tw9535]

I think that was kind of the point. Did you watch the video all the way through? Like at the 11:09 mark? Or are you saying the video misinterpreted sources from the past?

[@JagerLange]

I love I,. Claudius and John Hurt's sudden appearance in this got a laugh from me.

[@ziggyzap1]

King Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones was based on Caligula. So if you want to see what Caligula was like on a daily bases go watch that show

[@johndubois8876]

i had read that some local writer there had said that that will be the day sarcastically, when Caligula walks on water or something like that,,, so Caligula arranged the crossing.

[@sawahtb]

As I understood it Claudius still had Caligula's assassins executed.

[@woofy2000]

Now I wonder how 12th century archeology worked.

[@peterhutley4254]

Thanks

[@toldinstone]

Deeply appreciated!

[@KingSlimjeezy]

told in stone we love you come hang out with us next year at the Holy Boulders Pilgramagenear Carbondale IL!!!!!!!!! First Weekend of November

[@colleen6341]

Hey, really like your channel. I watch your videos all the time. However I don’t see any comments talking about Established Titles - it’s a scam company. It’s a gag gift "name a star" type of thing and you don’t actually get land or have a tree planted. You actually can’t even hold the legal title of lord under Scottish law. This information is just getting out, but I would recommend severing ties with ET.

[@jasondashney]

So you admit that it's a gag gift, but are still cranky about it?

[@colleen6341]

@@jasondashney Why were KZbinrs promoting it like it was legitimate? This is old news. Established Titles is proven to be a scam and nobody (to my knowledge) partners with them anymore. I get "cranky" when KZbinrs I support partner with scummy companies.

[@jasondashney]

@@colleen6341 Anyone that dense was bound to lose their money anyway.

[@dillopaintball]

I heard about your channel from the forehead fables podcast. I’m glad I found your channel!

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Back to tard containment

[@loopymoomoo1]

caligula was the very first man to live in a society

[@eyesthatburnthemind]

He may have had syphilis as well

[@GatesOfAvalon1]

Oof... Didn't expect an established titles plug in this one, that hits hard

[@jasondashney]

Why? It's a gag gift. Anybody who literally thinks you can become a Lord for a few bucks deserves to lose their money. I bet they are furious after they go see a magician and find out that it's mirrors and wires.

[@aardsnark940]

Quite surprised to see Caligula's Horse mentioned. Good band.

[@khanzor]

Came here to comment the same! Absolutely my favourite hahah.

[@bkohatl]

Like King Canute ordering the tide to retreat, to prove his sycophants were wrong.

[@goodnightcharly5135]

That bridge on the sea is to me a pretty inventive defensive construction

[@petersclafani4370]

I wouldn't want to live any where near him.

[@abyssimus]

Now I need to go back and did up the old "Viva Caligula" flash game.

[@markmcarthy596]

I have the original Caligula uncut movie on DVD from Penthouse-Malcolm McDowell was brilliant acting as Caesar and captured the essence of just how crazy and perverted He was. Good luck finding that to watch uncut

[@dreamingsymphony]

I think you can find the uncut of you pirate it...or is it that there were more crazy things that are cut?!🤔 Needless to say the movie is just hardcore porn and when I was watching it I was just looking overy shoulders to not get caught!

[@Tinil0]

Oh man, it hurts bad to see this channel support that established titles scam. I REALLY hope it was a desperation to find any sponsor and not a lack of due dillegence. For some reason, a channel like this hurts more because I respect it so much.

[@ahappyimago]

How was he supposed to know it’s a scam?

[@Tinil0]

@@ahappyimago Let's ignore that this was after the entire KZbin community realized it was a scam for the sake of argument. Due Diligence is the answer. If you represent something, you have the responsibility of researching what it is you are representing. By advertising it, you endorse it. If you advertise scams, you are partially responsible for everyone that gets scammed who saw your advertisement and joined. That's part and parcel of taking money to represent something.

[@ahappyimago]

@@Tinil0 His job is history not exposing fraud

[@Tinil0]

@@ahappyimago It has nothing to do with "exposing" anything. He doesn't need to share any info with anyone, but by taking money to promote it he is absolutely responsible for it.

[@ahappyimago]

@@Tinil0 no the people who made the fraudulent business are responsible unless it’s reasonably obviously a fraud

[@WuvPain]

So how do we think things like schizophrenia were recorded in ancient times? Obviously people just just say someone was “mad” but were things like delusions of grander something that was known about? Cause with him thinking he’s a god, paranoia of others with power and hallucination(like when he would talk to “moon people” or whatever you said) Like those 3 things sound like they could be schizophrenia to me, so if they did make up that he was crazy, wouldn’t it be a pretty weird coincidence that they described schizophrenia before a time where mental illnesses were understood?

[@JoJoJoker]

@2:45 oof Established Titles

[@huwhitecavebeast1972]

Being a murderous megalomaniac is the definition of insane dude.

[@veloce5491]

was hitler insane too?

[@AcornScorn]

I think the insanity of Caligula mainly comes from the fact he acted like a late empire ruler during the principate era. He was still at a time when he needed to appear as a member of the senate when as Agustus learned, that was just necessary pageantry for the transition from republic to empire. If he had come later he probably would have been remembered as an average emperor, but he came at a time when the aristocracy still had a lot of social influence and he pissed them off by showing they had no more political power effectively so they trashed him when they could

[@brick6347]

Ever feel like we're living in a bad reboot?

[@BobBob-xl8em]

PLZ POST AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. WHENEVER. DONT REGARD YOUR LITTLE DEMON. WE ARE PARCHED.

[@larsfinlay7325]

I'm just glad we call him Caligula instead of Gaius Agustus. The guy was a real jerk.

[@SJam491]

Thanks for taking the time to give Caligula the benefit of the doubt. 😁

[@notpublic7149]

Cheers, he is my favourite, little boots. We should all wish to be more like him. Let's hope to have leaders like him in the future. 😀😬😂❤️❤️

[@HeatherAngus-vj2jq]

You want leaders to be like Caligula? You’re MAD and insane! I can’t believe you want tyrants and dictators like Caligula and Hitler!

[@Chris-ki7rt]

Caligula's Horse are fuckin great

[@peterkoinzell7983]

9:00 Xerxes or one of the King of kings is said to have, after a wave of water destroyed a bridge he had been trying to construct while on campaign (which is typically considered bad luck), Xerxes had men waddle into the river and whip it 300 times. he had hand cuffs thrown into the river. the river was branded and were shells taken as loot? did I hear that part twice? little similar.

[@pittsburghwill]

the movie THE ROBE i think has one of the best portrayal of calligula

[@joseker2186]

Caligula sounds like he was droned

[@azaraelhyzer3874]

I am not insane the world I live is too orderly. ~ Caligula.

[@terrylong8894]

Caligula was definitely one of the weirder emperors.

[@Dylanbeee]

For some reason youtube doesn’t tell me when you upload videos. Despite being a subscriber

[@matbroomfield]

He's m... m... mad sir!

[@elliotkane4443]

Why do modern historians always feel the need to 'overrule' and second guess long established history?

[@tonytaskforce3465]

Yes

[@MrFredstt]

Just imagine thinking you're about to be executed only for the Emperor to come out.....and start dancing around the room for absolutely no reason at all

[@jordansiqueido2101]

Hey man. I hope that this Rome trivia question is rhetorical, bruh. He never bathed in the Ranch dressing at Ambrose Pizza in La Mirada. How come? Great Channel

[@MarkLatimerRussell]

This is wild. I have been watching you for like a year. I bought your audio book. I just realized I was not subscribed

[@antilope452]

"Caligula was erratic, eccentric, megalomaniacal and murderous, but theres no reason to assume that he was insane"

[@HeatherAngus-vj2jq]

That’s the definition of insane!

[@AmidalaEmma]

One thing is that he should have been deeply traumatized, much of his family had been horribly killed or left to starve to death in cells during his boyhood, and then he had to serve and live with the man who did it, the emperor Tiberius.

[@fritz404]

Did Romans have any mental impairments from their lead ?

[@orionfernandes4587]

Some did, I believe it was known as a disease that affected heavy drinkers.

[@Marinilliv]

This is mostly a misconception. the Greeks and Romans knew about the health detriments of using lead and continued to use it in aqueducts and other plumbing, but the hard water buildup prevented almost any contamination of lead into the water supply. Surely some did, but the idea of widespread lead poisoning affecting a large percentage of the population is overblown

[@gentlemanfarmer6042]

@@Marinilliv Thank You for someone saying this! Thus has become very pervasive as of late on the internet.

[@gentlemanfarmer6042]

This*

[@someguy8955]

Probably. I think it's similar to how we used to have leaded gasoline, which let high levels of lead in the bloodstream, which affected especially the children's development.

[@aleccope1320]

He was well liked and implemented great policies his first year. Then he had that fever and became a lunatic.

[@tedpikul1]

I'll take Suetonius' word for it.

[@manifestgtr]

5:44 LOL

[@leonardodavid2842]

I forgot who, but I remember reading an historian pitting foward the idea that Caligula’s order to collect sea shells was an order meant to humiliate his troops. A sort of jokes. This is because, as far as we know, the even occured on Caligula’s return from a failed campaign in gaul/germania, during which his troops refused, out of fear of the enemy, to follow rhe orders of the emperor. Caligula’s revenge was the order to collect seashells on the road to return to Italy. In essence: since u r not brave enough to cross the rhine into Germania, all u r good for is collecting seashells. Edit: This alligns with Caligula’s character. The emperor’s intentiom to make incitatus consul also seems to have been one such joke, likley in response to a fight with the senate.

[@RicardoFlor0]

No reasons to assume he was insane???? Where you take such conclusion from???

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Loved your appearance on forehead fables-I'm in the likely small overlap between your subscribers