Caligula-Year of Mourning

One of history’s worse despot, the Emperor of Rome Caligula was so distraught about his sister Drusilla’s death that he imposed a national year of mourning. The citizens of Rome were not allowed to conduct business, eat with family, cut their hair, or even take a bath! Not for a day, or week, but for an entire year! Do you think the citizens obeyed? I would think so, if they didn’t he’d have them killed.

Caligula is best remembered for his weirdness, depravity, and cruelty. When he first became Emperor of Rome he called for “change” and everything seem promising. He later went on a downward spiral. Caligula got drunk on power. He is alleged to have had incestuous relationships with 3 of his sisters. But his favorite was Drusilla. He appointed his horse, Incitatus a member of the senate! In fact, he wanted Incitatus in a position of consul. When Rome ran out of convicts in the gladiator games, Caligula would throw a few spectators into the den of lions instead. In the late evening hours he’d pace the palace floors commanding the sun to rise. These are just a few of the Emperor’s insane actions. Basically Caligula terrorized his own country for a short, but in a sense long, 4 years.

Caligula was assassinated by his own guards in A.D. 41.

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