186
ASSASSINATION OF CALIGULA.
sacrificed by the praetorians. The fate of Rome was like that
of a place taken by barbarous and merciless Turks, and the
condition of the empire was no better. Tiberius had left a
treasury which contained nearly twenty millions sterling, if the
calculation is right. This sum was squandered away by Caligula
during the first years of his reign in the most senseless manner;
and the fresh sums which were raised by confiscations were
lavished in the same way.
With the Germans, a peace had been concluded after the wars
of Germanicus, and it had now lasted for about twenty years;
but its terms are not known. Caligula, however, could not deny
himself the pleasure of undertaking a campaign ostensibly
against the Germans; but he conducted it like a fool. This
was, however, the least important among his senseless under-
takings : a more gigantic one was the causeway or bridge which
he caused to be made across the straits between Baiae and
Puteoli. Traces of this useless and absurd structure are still
visible in the harbour near Puzzuoli. His madness in ordering
himself to be worshipped as a god, and the like, are well
known.
After the empire had thus existed in despair for a period of
four years, a conspiracy broke out among the officers of the
praetorians, some of whom were obliged to be always about
the emperor’s person, and whom he insulted and ill-used.
Their plan succeeded, and Caligula was murdered. This event
excited great joy among the senators and people; and the
fantastic hope of restoring the republic now revived. The
consuls, who had been appointed by Caligula, were especially
enthusiastic. They convoked the senate in the Capitol ; and it
was really believed that the republic might be restored. The
senate quickly passed a sentence of disgrace upon CaIiguIa; and
during the first hours after his death the restoration of the
republic was discussed with great joy. But difficulties soon
appeared, and were followed by the conviction that the senate
reckoned without their host, and that the praetorians had all
the power in their hands : now the praetorians insisted upon
being governed by a monarch.
During the tumult Claudius had concealed himself for fear
of being murdered by the soldiers; but he was dragged forth
from his hiding-place, and led to the camp. He spent the night
in the anguish of death ; but the praetorians took their oath of
EARLY HISTORY OF CLAUDIUS.
187
allegiance to him, and regularly proclaimed him emperor,
although the cohortes urbanae, which were always hostile
towards the praetorians, had declared in favour of the republic;
but they were unable to make head against the praetorians.
The issue of the contest was so doubtful, that people were glad
on the following day to recognise Claudius as emperor.
Claudius was an uncle of Caligula and a brother of Ger-
manicus. It was almost a miracle that his life had been saved.
He had never been adopted by Tiberius, though otherwise a
succeeding emperor was, by a fiction, made the son of his
predecessor ; but things had already come to such a point, that
this preliminary step was no longer considered necessary to
establish a man’s claims to the sovereignty. Claudius was now
in his fiftieth year. Of Caligula we cannot speak otherwise
than as of a monster; but Claudius deserves our deepest pity,
although he did evil things, which shew that there was some
bad element in his nature. But if we examine the history of
his life, we shall find that his bad qualities were mainly the
result of his misfortunes.
His mother Antonia, a daughter of the triumvir, M. Antony,
called him ⅛portentum horninisi, and he was really an aτeλeστov,
for there was something wanting in him, without which the
human mind is not complete, although he was not devoid of
talent. He is one of those phenomena in history which we
may call psychological peculiarities. He had a great desire to
acquire knowledge, was very industrious, of a retentive memory,
and fond of science and literature; but he was deficient in
judgment and reflection. He often said and did things which
were really stupid ; and it seemed as if he were covered with a
thick crust, through which his better nature burst forth only
occasionally. Suetonius’ life of Claudius is very instructive.
In describing his character, Suetonius uses two Greek words,
which shew what nice observers of character the Greeks were.
He says5 that people were astonished at his μeτeωpca and
aβXeψla, referring to his want of tact and his thoughtlessness,
which made him say things that were inappropriate, or the
very reverse of what he ought to have said. In his early life,
he had been ill-treated by his whole family, for his brother
and sister were persons of great qualities, and possessed all the
love and affection of the family, whereas every one was ashamed
4 Sueton. Claud. 3. i Claud. 39.