← Back to the archive★ Support my pages
DD-215Peoplealso HistoryFiled Last updated

Little Boot

Short answer: Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus in AD 12, was Rome's third emperor. His nickname, meaning 'little boot', came from the miniature soldier's boots he wore as a child in his father's army camps.

He became emperor in AD 37 and was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard in January AD 41. Ancient writers such as Suetonius and Cassius Dio describe extravagant spending, cruelty and claims to divinity; modern historians note that these sources were hostile to him. According to Suetonius, he planned to make his horse Incitatus a consul. The footage shows illustrations of Caligula and Rome, with the presenter.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

In collections:Persons of Interest

More like this★ Support my pagesCite this file

What should you know about Little Boot?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. His nickname came from the boots he wore as a child.

    DD-215-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Little boot)

  2. He became emperor in AD 37.

    DD-215-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (AD 37)

Video transcript: Little Boot: Caligula's Nickname Means 'Little Boot' in Latin

Caligula's reign is one of the most infamous in Roman history. Ascending to power in AD 37, Caligula is often remembered for his eccentric and erratic behavior, which shocked and bewildered the Roman elite. From extravagant spending to declaring himself a god, his actions redefined excess in the Roman Empire. DID YOU KNOW? Caligula was so outlandish, in fact, that he once made his horse a senator, showcasing his peculiar sense of humor, or perhaps his disdain for the Senate. His reign, though short-lived, left an indelible mark on Roman history, illustrating both the extremes of imperial power, and the vulnerabilities of absolute authority. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 39.7s Reel ·

Video coming soonLittle Boot · Instagram Reel
Little Boot: Caligula's Nickname Means 'Little Boot' in Latin Instagram Reel · · 39.7s

The write-up

Caligula's nickname means 'little boot' in Latin. He ruled Rome for less than four years before he was assassinated.

  1. Exhibit A

    Little boot

    His nickname came from the boots he wore as a child.

  2. Exhibit B

    AD 37

    He became emperor in AD 37.

  3. Exhibit C

    Assassination

    He was killed by Praetorian Guards in AD 41.

  4. Exhibit D

    Hostile sources

    Ancient accounts of him are hostile.

  5. Exhibit E

    Incitatus

    Suetonius says he planned to make his horse consul.

Questions people ask about Little Boot

What does 'Caligula' mean?

From his childhood boots.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Little boot) · Wikipedia: Caligula

When did he become emperor?

After Tiberius.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (AD 37) · Wikipedia: Caligula

How did his reign end?

In AD 41.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Assassination) · Wikipedia: Caligula

Why are accounts of him debated?

Suetonius and Cassius Dio.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Hostile sources) · Wikipedia: Caligula

What was his horse called?

Planned consul.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Incitatus) · Wikipedia: Incitatus

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What does 'Caligula' mean?

    1. Little boot
    2. Great king
    3. Golden helmet
    4. Young lion
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Little boot From his childhood boots. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Little boot) · Wikipedia: Caligula

  2. When did he become emperor?

    1. AD 37
    2. 27 BC
    3. AD 64
    4. AD 14
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. AD 37 After Tiberius. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (AD 37) · Wikipedia: Caligula

  3. How did his reign end?

    1. Assassination
    2. Abdication
    3. Old age
    4. Exile
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Assassination In AD 41. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Assassination) · Wikipedia: Caligula

  4. Why are accounts of him debated?

    1. The sources were hostile
    2. There are none
    3. He wrote them
    4. They are modern
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The sources were hostile Suetonius and Cassius Dio. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Hostile sources) · Wikipedia: Caligula

  5. What was his horse called?

    1. Incitatus
    2. Bucephalus
    3. Marengo
    4. Copenhagen
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Incitatus Planned consul. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Incitatus) · Wikipedia: Incitatus

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Little Boot." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-215, last updated Apr 22, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/little-boot/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/little-boot/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-215-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/little-boot/#DD-215-F01

Collection · Persons of Interest Case file 20 of 32

Next in Collection · DD-216Canute the Great →