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This is why he never had a salad named after him.

Power doesn't corrupt. Power reveals.

Caligula: prepare for trouble Nero: and make it double

If Caligula had died instead of dragging himself back to the land of the living he probably would have been on the list of the most popular emperors instead of on the list of the worst emperers!

Imagine living through Tiberius then Caligula only to see Nero take the throne oof

Caligula: "I'm the MAD Roman Emperor!" Nero: "Hold my wine"

"You've gone mad with power!" "Of course i have! Have you ever tried going mad without power? Waste of time, no-one listens." The Simpsons

“And he is giving you bread and circuses and a promise he is not going to kill you at random” Well done script writer well done

It's ironic that Caligula's name was erased from Roman history, yet will remain to be known throughout all of human history.

I heard that the horse he made counsel always voted “Nay” .......

*Romans: Finally, now that tyrant Tiberius has died, we can all return to a somewhat more tranquil existence.* *Caligula: **_Sike fools thou has thought!_*

Fun story about his name. “Boot” has long been a term used by those in militaries, applied to new guys. Basically a way to call those who haven’t deployed yet a “rookie” or “noob”. “Slick” was also used in the early 20th century, referring to their slick sleeves not having any chevrons, not really important here tho lol. But as you said, as a child he would follow his dad (who was very well respected and loved by his men) on campaigns, and wear said uniform. So the men would like “hey little boot” and it stuck. I’ve always found this to be awesome, cause the same basic thing still happens today.

HBO needs to up re-up Rome again with 5+ seasons.

Power doesn’t corrupt. Power attracts the corruptible, absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible (Frank Herbert)

"Rome is just a city of necks waiting for me to cut" - caligula

An interesting theory that I kind of like regarding Caligula is when he took ill, he apparently suffered a serious fever as well and when he recovered he had actually suffered brain damage. A sad effect of brain damage (which certainly could have been caused by poison as well) is that people who suffer it can undergo a personality change.

"Seducing his sister and making his horse consul." Oh boy oh boy buckle up.

Let's just get a whole series Roman Emperors. Edit: Oh my Caesar 600+ likes thanks. Edit 2: 800+ I clearly speak for the people Simon

"Seducing his sister and making his horse consul" Sounds just like your average crusader kings 2 game.

I'm officially addicted to these bios. I love ancient history, and your delivery is excellent!! Thank you!!

Please, you *have* to do Nero next!

As far as Roman emperors go, I'm looking forward to the episode titled "Marcus Aurelius - The Philosopher King".

Near the end of Romes ancient era..they had a new emperor every 6 months..it was THAT unstable..ripe for the Visigoth invasion..And its ultimate fall..

To contrast when absolute power does not corrupt absolutely. Consider a biography on Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

"He was also something of a colossal DICK" - superb!

You take a mortal man and put him in control watch him become a god watch people’s head a roll - Megadeth

Says he only ruled for four years- Me: That was all in four years?

14:15 Tell me that doesnt look like Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones.

This is a really good Biographic but I was wondering if you could do the mysterious figure of Simon Whistler

Would love to see one on Cesare Borgia. I've heard he was the inspiration for The Prince. Also an amazing military leader. Not to mention son of one of the most wicked popes in history.

"like if the Kennedys, the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers and the Queen of England..." Boy howdy you just created a new conspiracy theory

I wish I had Simon as a teacher when I was in school. He makes learning so fun and interesting.

He’s like an ancient Roman version of Ramsey Snow from Game of Thrones. On another note, I definitely see the inspiration for the villain of Gladiator.

Claudius was found hiding behind a curtain, and they made paintings of this

Sounds like that close brush with death put him in a "well, you only live once, might as well do whatever the hell I want before it's over." mood.

John Hurt played Caligula in "I, Claudius" and it was so good. I will never forget the Venus scene.

If Caligula was Rome's worst emperor, Nero ran him a close second.

I love that you add a little humour. I needed some, that man is as dark as they get.

I have always thought that the character of King Joffrey in Game of Thrones may have been modeled after Caligula. In looking at the statues of him in this video, it seems to me that the actor Jack Gleeson bears a considerable resemblance to him.

No one ever seems to mention one of the most disgusting things Caligula had ever done. I almost cried and threw up after hearing about it. A person insulted Caligula to his face in the street, so Caligula had his whole family rounded up. Caligula had the guy killed, then his wife, and then their children one after another from oldest to youngest. With the last child, a 12 year old girl, sobbing hysterically after being forced to watch what Caligula's guards did to her family, someone in the crowd asked to spare her because she was a virgin. Caligula reportedly smiled, then ordered one of his guards to brutally rape the girl, making her an "adult", then strangle her to death. I pray we never again have any President or ruler that is his level of sadistic.

I like how you’re splicing in some comedic bits, while not letting them overtake the informative nature of the video. Cheers from across the pond, and please keep up the good work!

“Shut up and take our throne.” Love it! 🤣

I've always wondered if Caligula's "sudden" change in personality was down to brain damage from whatever happened to him, rather than this madness and behaviour always being who he was from the start just hidden out of some kind of self-preservation so early in his rule. Be it poison or perhaps even a stroke, it seems to suggest at the very least that his brain might have suffered from a lack of oxygen with brain cells dying (his complaint about constant headaches was likely a sign of this damage). Sure he had a really nasty side of him before the event, but that side clearly wasn't entirely dominant else his positive reforms before he became ill likely wouldn't have happened. Brain damage could have damaged the areas of his brain responsible for his more controlled, level and logical side, leaving that nasty side as the new dominant part of his personality. Not to mention some of the downright bizarre things he did that clearly point to a form of madness taking hold - again something traumatic brain damage is known to cause. Add to that the rumours of him being poisoned which likely reached his ears and added paranoia to the list of symptoms and you end up with exactly the person he turned out to be. If this is the case, then from the moment whatever took place to cause his illness onwards I would consider him more of a mentally ill victim rather than some sort of intentional evil that had just been biding its time to emerge. Sadly because the world at that time didn't seem to really recognize or care about mentally ill people, nor did it consider them "victims" - and because the only way for a Roman Emperor to be replaced was through their DEATH, he was left still in power when he really should have been removed from the throne and either locked up or sent someone quiet and remote (but cared for financially) to live out the rest of his life in exile/peace. Instead, Rome and history got ... well ... Caligula.

I remember watching “I Claudius” on PBS as a kid. Caligula was creepy.

Fun fact he banned goat jokes in Rome

That was excellent, Simon. Thanks so much to you and your team of researchers.

was it a requirement in Ancient Rome that in order for someone to be qualified as an Emperor they must be an absolute Lunatic?

Him: “Rome was like ‘shut up and take our thrown’” Me:....heh.... * pushes thumbs up *

Good you put In a bit more details regarding Caligula than the typical stuff. Great job for a short Bio 🙂👍

Its truly a miracle that the Empire did not go back to a republic after experiencing 3 perverse and tyrannical emperors one after another. By the time of Nero's death and subsequent year of four emperors I thought people might question the effectiveness of system that gives god-like power to a single man.

Julius Caesar; "I am a badass general." Augustus Caesar; "Lol, hold my acquisitions" Tiberus; "Hold their food." Caligua; "Hold my horse and sister." Nero; "Hold my ablaze Rome and Christians." ....100 destruction

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Claudius next. Most people only know Claudius from his depiction by Sir Derek Jacobi, which is still the best, but I'm sure probably isn't too historically accurate. Thank you for Caligula!

The coloured bust of Caligula resembles Piers Morgan. Apparently assholery can cross genetic lines

I really like how Roman first, middle and last names often rhyme

You sounded like you were having a lot of fun in this episode xD Can't say I blame you, this guy gives Joffrey Lannister a run for his money

I'm a new subscriber, I would like to say that you give an incredible and visual history lesson. I will be watching all the videos you have, you are very talented.

You're a great presenter. I'm glad you have enough videos to keep me occupied at work every day

As someone with a passion for history, i must say your videos are well researched, easy to follow for people with little history knowledge and most importantly very interesting to watch. You just gained another subscriber.

You can tell that Simon enjoyed making this one! Excellent work as always 👌

A bio about Tycho Brahe, or a followup of this doing Nero would be interesting :) Great video btw!

I have to say the story telling is exceptional in this one. It's lively, modern and entertaining. Keep up the good work and most importantly keep 'em coming ♡

This seems like something that would be an amazing HBO show

y'all are on fire with these uploads

Terrific video. If you want to see John Hurt's amazing performance as Caligula, I highly recommend the classic BBC miniseries, I, Claudius.

Maybe Caligula survivied his illness by making a deal with Slannesh.

This is a fantastic channel. The first historical channel that provides context and is easy to follow. What a great speaker/orator you are! Thank you so much

"Ya'll better get ready Neptune, we pullin up" -Caligula shortly before his death

When you said Caligula’s idea of fun was even more terrifying than Tiberius’, I groaned.

He looks so much like Joffrey from GoT

"Colossaaalll DDDDick💩" that got me😂😂

I think it would be cool if you did a Biographics on Josip Broz Tito, as he was an interesting figure during the time of the cold war, he also had a very interesting life before he became the leader of Yugoslavia. 11/10 would subscribe again.

Nothing better then a brit saying 'empiaaaaa' several times

Caligula: Suggests a horse as senator as a joke, and to insult the senators History: Thinks Caligula was serious Senators: Got the joke, didn't like it, eventually kill the guy

"Rasputin, bring hither the the skindiving with the bottom cut out and unleash the rampant wilderbeast!" -Caligula (Red Dwarf season 4 finale Meltdown)

Thank you for this! Caligula is such an interesting figure.

Caligulas story is one that's always made me wonder about the possibilities of lead poisoning. From various descriptions of his symptoms historians have speculated that the illness that seems to have so profoundly changed him was a product of excessive lead intake. Easy to believe since lead was a common food additive at the time, especially in the best wines (Exactly the kind that Caligula would have been drinking). Between the mans extreme fever and being subjected to it over such a long period of time, it's POSSIBLE (though only speculative) that Caligula could in fact have been brain damaged by the illness. That could potentially account for the big personality shift.

I'm pretty sure this caligula boi is the source of inspiration for that joffrey dude in GOT.

Your podcast and KZfaq channels have become my favourites. Great work, keep it up!

Once read an Article about him claiming that the Trauma of living with Tiberius made him schizophrenic thats why he sometimes was good and than so randomly evil at other Times. The illness may also have worsened his conditon

Not that my opinion matters, but after watching at least 90% of your videos, I think this is Simons best one, just witty funny and accurate. Loved it 👍

Fun fact: Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones was modelled after Caligula.

love you man glad you are still around happy to see you are growing too you fill most my time with this madness i love it thank you for your teachings and keep them comeing

Crazy empereors, absolutely nothing to do with lead in your plumbing pipes????

Grandios Video! Love it. Caligulas Story is so intriguing 😁

5:00 - "Tiberius' time on Capri was passed satisfying himself with underage boys and girls and then having them hurled off cliffs to their deaths..." I realize everyone has their own hobbies but wow. smh

Mad? He was just partying hard. Life is short.

Glad you are back to BC and AD. 👍👍

Can you guys do Alexis deTocqueville ? He was a famous enlightenment philosopher who wrote “Democracy in America”, which is a book based on the questions of “why has America not had a revolution yet, while France has had several, despite both having enlightenment ideals based in there revolutions”. It is said that in his book he predicted a great power struggle between America and the Russians a hundred years before the Cold War even happened in his book. He is also not really well known in France, his own homeland.

I am addicted to your shows. Please keep them coming. We love the interesting people you pick and i love the true crime or creepy ones you cover!

When you can learn more about history from KZfaq than you can The History Channel.

That Elvis uh huh made me proper LOL 😂😂😂

You're getting goofier as time goes on, and I love it!

A credible theory is that Caligula contracted syphilis sometime after attaining the throne. That would explain his illness and subsequent insanity.

That was totally enjoyable, thanks so much! Great speaking voice and awesome storytelling 😃 the expressive eyebrows are pretty cool too lol.

Been waiting on this one for sometime now. Good on you thanks

YES!!! Thank you for making one of Caligula!! He’s one of my favorite Emperors of all time and I really love studying about him!!! ❤️❤️❤️👑

I really enjoy these videos! Keep them coming! They're so very concise and interesting.👍

Very informative and actually made the history amusing to listen to. Subscribed 😊