-31 AD- it was around this time that Tiberius seriously withdrew from trying to actually be a good ruler and just became withdrawn, paranoid, and decadent.
-Time for another purge! However, Tiberius' purge was especially ruthless, and was responsible for the butchering of entire families of his "enemies" and turning Rome into essentially into a brutal dictatorship (once again).
-Where were the legions during this time? Why didn't they do something?
-This is because they were mostly concerned with just obeying their commanders, who themselves were trying to (usually) just obey their orders from the Praetorian Guard, where the real power was at. Additionally, it was the Praetorian Guard who were willingly committing all of the violence in the first place!
-First to go were allies of Sejanus; they were either exiled or executed and their property was then seized by the state. After that, anyone caught speaking out against the state or criticizing the regime would get whacked- seniors, children, ANYONE.
-Bodies were just left to rot in the streets or thrown in the river because it was a crime to bury, cremate, or otherwise dispose of the bodies.
-Tiberius conducted and approved of the slaughter from his residence in Capri. So, what was he doing there to occupy his free time?
-We don't actually know for sure, but he was allegedly having huge orgies and sex parties with both men and women. He also had a giant erotic library, a bunch of obscene art and sculptures, and he would also have little boys lick him underwater while he was swimming around in his pool or the ocean or whatever. He would apparently also make newborn babies give him oral sex (WTF). Of course, he'd also go around raping people and beating or murdering them. In general, just being a complete psychopath.
-Regardless of if any of this was true or not, it was clear that everyone back in Rome hated his guts.
-Because it was clear that Tiberius was getting on in age, all eyes were on the possible heirs to the throne- it was down to either Caligula (son of Germanicus (who had been adopted by Tiberius)) or Tiberius Gemellus (Tiberius' grandson).
-So, who exactly was Caligula?
-Raised in military camps by his father.
-Nickname came from the word for "little soldier's boot" because he would be dressed up like a little soldier, which was cute.
-During this time, however, he went by the name Gaius (his full name was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) and his nickname was only brought back later on.
-Caligula's upbringing was kind of fucked up, especially after his dad died. Tiberius had had his mom and older siblings killed (among other family members) after the death of Germanicus, and Caligula had been forced to live with his grandmother, Antonia (daughter of Marc Antony and Octavia). Before that he had been living with Livia Drusilla.
-After the death of Sejanus, Tiberius ordered for Caligula to come live with him in Capri (uh-oh...).
-Caligula was apparently a great actor and hid his hatred of Tiberius well.
-33 AD- Caligula was promoted to quaestor and married Junia Claudilla, but she died giving birth later that year.
-35 AD- Caligula and Tiberius Gemellus were named as joint heirs.
-37 AD- Tiberius finally croaks.
-How did he die?
-He was definitely old (78!), but the more sexy version is that he was sick, was reported dead, then reported alive and recovering, and then reported dead again (this was possibly because he was murdered by the Praetorian prefect Naevius Sutorius Macro... OR maybe even Caligula!).
-Regardless, Tiberius was dead and everyone was happy!
-Immediately, probably with the backing of the Praetorian Guard due to a secret deal, Gemellus was denied his inheritance, kept under house arrest, and then executed under charges of treason! Gangster shit!
-Caligula meanwhile was welcomed into Rome by throngs of people. In fact, it was reported that 150,000 animals were sacrificed across the empire in celebration of the new princeps.
-Caligula began his reign by declaring an end to the treason charges. He then burned all of the records and charges, much to everyone's happiness, and then allowed those who had been exiled to be pardoned and returned.
-He then cancelled a shitty tax that no one liked, and after this he raised the salaries of the soldiers!
-He also restored power to several various client monarchs, giving them more administrative power within their own kingdoms.
-He then kicked off a big celebration with public spectacles and gladiator events.
-However, Caligula was just a spoiled, fucked up kid inside, and inevitably began to indulge in booze, sluts, feasts, etc.
-6 months after becoming princeps, Caligula grew mysteriously ill and almost died! It was around this time that Caligula began to get seriously fucked up in the head...
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