Gaius Caesar, son of the popular general and dynastic heir, Germanicus, and great grand-son of Augustus through his mother, was born AD 12 shortly before the death of Augustus. Evidence for the life of the 3rd Roman emperor is sparse, as the work of Tacitus for this period is lost. What does exist, primarily Suetonius, Seneca, Cassius Dio, Josephus and Philo, is completely negative and openly hostile for a variety of reasons. While these accounts are certainly somewhat tainted by the personal and political agendas of the authors, there is a basis for truth in each. The life of Gaius is clouded in 'madness' and 'megalomania', and there is enough evidence to back up claims of adverse behavior whether caused by mental illness, personal ego, or even historical embellishment. Despite his youth, his short reign of less than 4 years, and the slanderous history that followed, certainly indicates a widespread dislike. Had some of the rumors of depravity, indiscretion and megalomania not been true, and thus his assassination purely the result of political maneuvering, than at least some small contrary record might be expected to be found. All ancient sources, however, paint Gaius with a fairly similar brush.
Read Full Article »