Caligula (Gaius Claudius Caesar) lived from 12 to 41 CE). Roman Emperor 37 – 41 CE, who went down in history as one of the cruelest rulers of Rome.
- “Do neither good nor ill to the man whom I have sent you”
- latin: [Ei quem istoc misi, neque boni quicquam neque mali feceris]
- description: information in a secret letter that Caligula had ordered particular equite to personally deliver to the hands of King Ptolemy in Mauritania, because of his too noisy behavior during a theatrical performance.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 55
- “I live!”
- latin: [Vivo!]
- description: Caligula’s last words once he laid on the ground after the blow of tribune Cherea.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 13
- “Don’t take liberties with my wife”
- latin: [Noli uxorem meam premere]
- description: Suetonius says that Caligula honored the wedding of Livia Orestilla with Gaius Piso with his presence. Caligula was to utter these words while participating in the wedding feast; with these words was to admonish the Piso who rests in front of him. Then he immediately abducted Livia from the feast. The next day, he announced in a public announcement that “he had got himself a wife in the manner of Romulus and Augustus” – Romulus kidnapped Sabine, and August took Livia as his wife, who was already married.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 25
- “Let them hate me, so they fear me”
- latin: [Oderint, dum metuant]
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 30
- “Sand without lime”
- latin: [Harenam esse sine calce]
- description: o the works of Seneca the Younger.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 53
- “Would that the Roman people had but one neck!”
- latin: [Utinam p. R. unam cervicem haberet!]
- description: when the audience favored another side.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 30
- “Strike so that he may feel that he is dying”
- latin: [Ita feri ut se mori sentiat]
- description: Caligula did not allow the condemned man to be killed immediately. In this way he emphasized his cruelty.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 30
- “A man ought either to be frugal or Caesar”
- latin: [Aut frugi hominem esse oportere dictitans aut Caesarem]
- description: the words of Caligula during the feasts, when bread and golden snacks were served.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 37
- “[…] draw the sword of his nightly labours”
- latin: [(…) se lucubrationis suae telum minabatur]
- description: according Suetonius he said such words in anger during a public speech.
- source: Suetonius, Caligula, 53
