# Caligula — The Lives of the Caesars character guide

> Caligula in The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Gaius Caligula Germanicus, Germanicus, Gaius, Thereupon Caligula

**First appearance:** 0003-book-iv-gaius-caligula

## Who they are

Raised in army camps and nicknamed for his little boots, Caligula learned early to hide cruelty behind obedience — until the mask came off.

## Relationships

### [Augustus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/augustus)

_family_

Augustus was Caligula's great-grandfather, and Caligula was named after him, though Augustus died before Caligula's rise to power.

### [Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/tiberius)

_family_

Caligula was Tiberius's grandnephew and adopted grandson, and Tiberius raised him on Capri, but Caligula later despised him.

### [Claudius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/claudius)

_family_

Caligula was Claudius's nephew, and he often humiliated Claudius publicly, though Claudius survived Caligula's reign.

### [Augustus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/augustus)

_family_

Augustus was Caligula's great-grandfather, and Caligula was named after him, though Augustus died before Caligula's rise to power.

### [Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/tiberius)

_family_

Caligula was Tiberius's grandnephew and adopted grandson, and Tiberius raised him on Capri, but Caligula later despised him.

## In the story

### [Book III: Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-iii-tiberius)

Father of Tiberius's grandsons; Tiberius claims he punished Sejanus for harming Germanicus's children.

### [Book IV: Gaius Caligula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-iv-gaius-caligula)

The central figure of the chapter, depicted as a cruel, extravagant, and paranoid emperor who squanders the treasury, invents oppressive taxes, and delights in public executions and humiliation.

### [Book IV: Gaius Caligula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-iv-gaius-caligula)

Father of Caligula, celebrated for his military victories, filial piety, and virtuous character; his death under suspicious circumstances is recounted as a prelude to Caligula's story.

### [Book V: The Deified Claudius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-v-the-deified-claudius)

Claudius's older brother, adopted into the Julian family.

### [Book V: The Deified Claudius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-v-the-deified-claudius)

Claudius's predecessor; Claudius claimed he feigned stupidity to survive under Gaius.

### [Book VI: Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vi-nero)

Father of Agrippina the Younger; his daughter Germanicus is mentioned as Nero's mother's father.

### [Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/vitellius)

Vitellius won his intimacy through devotion to driving; also mentioned in relation to Lucius Vitellius's flattery.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in notes about his reign and building projects.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/caligula
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters