31 August – On this day

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or Caligula as he is better known to the world, was born on this day in AD 12. Caligula was the son of the wildly popular Germanicus and was given the name Caligula, meaning little boots, by his father’s soldiers whilst on campaign with him as a young child because he walked around the camp wearing soldiers’ boots. When Caligula first became emperor the Roman people celebrated his accession, but not much more than 6 months after his accession his reign turned into a nightmare for anyone close to the emperor or Senate.