Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus at The Vatican, Vatican City

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Caligula was a popular nickname of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Roman emperor from AD 37 to AD 41. He belonged to the house of rulers known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father, Germanicus, a successful general and public figure, earned him the nickname "little soldier's boot" from soldiers while accompanying him in campaigns in Germany. When Germanicus died at Antioch in AD 19, his wife Agrippina the Elder returned to Rome with her six children and became embroiled in a bitter feud with Tiberius. The conflict led to the destruction of her family, with Caligula as the only male survivor. Unaffected by the deadly intrigues, Caligula accepted an invitation to join the emperor on Capri Island in AD 31. With Tiberius' death in AD 37, Caligula succeeded him as Emperor. There are few sources about Caligula's reign, but he is described as a noble and moderate ruler for the first six months. After that, the sources portray him as an insane tyrant due to his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversity. While the reliability of these sources is questionable, it is known that Caligula worked to increase his personal power during his brief reign. He focused on ambitious construction projects and luxurious dwellings for himself, initiating two aqueducts in Rome: Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus. During his reign, the Empire annexed Mauretania as a province. In early AD 41, Caligula became the first Roman emperor to be assassinated by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers. The conspirators' attempt to restore the Roman Republic was thwarted when the Praetorian Guard declared Caligula's uncle Claudius as the next Roman Emperor on the day of his assassination. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory that creates a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures and artworks for free. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.