The Cruelty of Caligula

Gaius Caesar, more commonly known as Caligula (AD 12–41), was a Roman emperor notorious for his cruelty. He developed an insatiable appetite for gladiatorial games and other violent spectacles. On one occasion, when the crowd cheered for a team he did not support, he flew into a rage, leaping to his feet and declaring, “I wish all you Romans had only one neck!”

At another gathering, during a banquet with Roman elites, Caligula suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter. When the consuls seated beside him inquired about…