Ascending to the Roman Imperial throne at the age of twenty-four upon the death of his father Tiberius, Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus) was initially welcomed to the throne by both the Senate and the people of Rome.

Eager to be admired by the Roman street, he lowered taxes, gave amnesties to political prisoners, increased the size and number of entertainments, distributed grain and beer, etc.

However, following a short but near-fatal illness, Caligula became increasingly more paranoid and hostile. 

The Caligula whom history remembers soon emerged: "Self-indulgent, cruel, sadistic, extravagant and sexually perverted," an "insane, murderous tyrant who demanded and received worship as a living god, a feckless and murderous monster," etc.

Caligula wasted no opportunity to humiliate his Senate, and expressed his contempt for his government with frivolous appointments to high offices, such as presenting his horse as consul, the highest elected office of Rome.

Caligula's eccentricity and arrogance quickly undermined his popularity. Four years into his term Caligula insulted an officer of the Praetorian Guard. This was the last straw. The Senate leaped at the opportunity and joined with the Praetorians in a successful assassination of Caligula by sword and dagger in 41 CE. Caligula was twenty-eight years old at the time of his death.