Caligula - Caligula (English spelling)

His real name was Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus. Caligula was his nickname. Roman Emperor (reigned 37-41). Born to Germanicus, the adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, he spent his childhood with his parents in the Rhine garrison camp. He was nicknamed Caligula after the children's military boots (Caligula) that he loved to wear. During his reign, he was popular because he valued the traditions of his noble family, but he soon fell seriously ill and after recovering, he began to show signs of mental confusion. His suspicions led him to demand the execution of important people, the ignorance of the Senate, and the deification of the emperor, and he showed an inclination toward absolute monarchy. In particular, his forced worship of the emperor caused Jewish unrest in Jerusalem and Alexandria. His extravagance and cruelty were compounded, and after returning from his march to the Rhine in Gaul in the autumn and winter of 39-40, he was plagued by the danger of intrigue, and in January 41 he was assassinated at court along with his wife and young daughter.

[Ryoji Motomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

本名ガイウス・ユリウス・カエサル・ゲルマニクスGaius Julius Caesar Germanicus。カリグラはあだ名。ローマ皇帝（在位37～41）。ティベリウス帝の養子ゲルマニクスを父として生まれ、少年期を両親とともにライン河畔駐屯軍の陣営で過ごしたが、このころ愛用した幼児用軍靴（カリグラ）にちなんでカリグラというあだ名でよばれるようになった。彼の治世は、当初は名門の家風を重んじたので人望を集めたが、やがて重病に倒れ、回復後は精神錯乱の様相を帯びるようになった。猜疑(さいぎ)心から有力者の処刑、元老院の無視、現身(うつしみ)の神格化を要求して、専制君主政への傾斜を示した。とりわけ、皇帝礼拝の強要はエルサレムやアレクサンドリアにおけるユダヤ人騒乱の因となった。浪費と残虐がたび重なり、39～40年秋・冬のガリア・ライン河畔への進軍から帰還した後は、陰謀の危険にさいなまれながら、41年1月、妻と幼娘とともに宮廷内で暗殺された。

［本村凌二］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例