As a young leader, it may seem like a benefit to rule with an iron fist.

Show your strength and let your people know that you will not put up with any wrongdoing.

For Caligula, he took that approach with his leadership and was sure that he would rule Rome forever.

Yeah. Guy Gaii, Gaius Caesar Germanicus was born on August 31st in the year 12C in Antium, now Anzio, Italy.

The third of six living children born to Germanicus and Agrippina the elder,

Gaius hailed from Rome's most distinguished family, the Julio Claudians. Like many areas that are controlled by a ruling class,

the family tree plays a huge part in how events unfold over time, and it can get confusing

because a lot of the same names are used over generations.

Caligula's great-great-grandfather was Julius Caesar, who was the dictator of Rome from 49

B.C.E. to his assassination in 44 BC.

Caligula's great-grandfather was Augustus, who was the first emperor of Rome and the

founder of the Roman Empire,

ruling from 27 BCE until his death in 14C.E. From there, Augustus's son Tiberius ruled

into the year 37. Now, it's important to note that many people in the Roman Empire that are listed

as a son were actually adopted, usually some

other type of relative that took on the position of son to a father figure.

Tiberius was Augustus' stepson, and Augustus was Julius Caesar's great nephew.

Tiberius went on to adopt Germanicus, which made him not blood related to Augustus. That was good

because Germanicus would marry Agrippina the elder. Agrippina was the biological daughter of

Julia the elder and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and Julia was the biological daughter of Augustus.

Germanicus was a beloved leader in his own right.

Gaius was close to his father, and, at the age of three, began frequently accompanying

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