Was Caligula Really the Worst Roman Emperor? | With Professor Mary Beard 

Mary Beard is like the David Attenborough for Ancient Rome.

I find it very poignant that Caligula would be horrified to know that that’s the name he is know by.

I absolutely love Professor Beard. She's the classicist Attenborough, a national treasure.

"the first blow didn't kill him, but the next 31 did" ...I mean, that would do it...

Perfect example of how it’s not just the history but how you get the message that makes the difference. The way Mary Beard draws you in; the passion she has in conveying challenging and complex history; and how she brings the ancient to life here and now. She’s fantastic.

Any programme that includes Mary Beard is guaranteed to be a great watch. This one is no exception.

i am here for Mary Beard’s commitment to the DRAMA

Mary Beard is absolutely spectacular. I can't get enough of her enthusiasm and insight. She brings the ordinary (or to us extraordinary) daily hustle and bustle of everyday Ancient Romans to life.

Her look at the statues and busts was pretty insightful, the way that they had been hastily converted from Caligula to Claudius really illuminated the story of the sharp transition of power

When I was in the Navy, my ship docked in Naples for an extended period of time and I was fortunate enough to visit Capri. It was a bit inspiring walking the same paths as Tiberius and Caligula. We walked through vineyards in lower Capri and up steps carved in rock to get to upper Capri. It was exhausting, but fortunately a bus came along as we were trudging up a road and gave us a lift to the top. Stunning. Cheers....

Mary is the perfect narrator and host. I love her energy and enthusiasm she’s awesome!

Prof Beard is such an engaging and enthusiastic presenter! I've rewatched many of her projects and I never get bored with her style. As always this was an excellent video.

Time to reread I, Claudius..and then rewatch the TV-series!

May I say how much I simply adore Mary Beard. I can't watch enough of the shows she presents. Thank you, Mary Beard and HH.

Mary beard! A brilliant woman!

I was actually horrified when I found out his father was Germanicus, who could've been Rome's greatest emperor

Philo of Alexandria is a VERY interesting subject. He lived from 25 BC to 50AD and though he was from Egypt (ie- Philo of Alexandria, with Alexandria being the chief port of Egypt), he spent much of his life in Judea. He was an ENORMOUSLY prolific author, writing things from personal musings and tomes of knowledge, through to many religious texts and the interpretation of the bible (need I specify 'The Torah?'). He even penned (quilled?) a number of chronicles for Rome, about the events in Judea and of the troubles in Herod's court. In short, Philo of Alexandria was the PERFECT witness to the events leading up to the birth of christ, the course of his life, his death and the aftermath of his death. Philo would have been a man, an adult at the time of Christ's birth and survived Christ by roughly 20 years. Since we know that he was in Judea at this time, then we should find his chronicles of the life and death of christ as the ultimate guide. Unfortunately, Philo never wrote a single word about Jesus. He never even mentioned having heard rumours of a 'Jewish sage, going through Judea, healing the sick and raising the dead.' He never wrote a single word about seeing this Jesus walk on water, or any other miracle. But he couldn't be everywhere, all at once, so even if he just wrote what others were saying, that should be enough. Except that he apparently never hears a single person ever talk about the miracles Jesus was supposed to have been performing. He never hears a single noteworthy rumour about Jesus, at all! Right through to the year 50 AD, he never hears a single thing about Jesus (or anyone else) that was supposedly performing miracles, or being resurrected after their death! Not a single word. Not even a single word about hearing rumours of such events!! These seem to be the perfect things for a chronicler to have written. To ensure that his chronicles were read thousands of years after his death, he should have written about the living God in his area. No, not Pharaoh, even though Pharaoh was a living God. Not Nero either, even though the Cult of the Emperor proclaimed every Roman Emperor to be a living God. No, I mean the one who not a single contemporary witness ever seems to hear about; Jesus! I just don't understand how it could be possible for Jesus to have existed (as described in the bible) and to performed the miracles and deeds ascribed to him, without any of these deeds, or Jesus himself to have ever found their way to the ears of a chronicler as prolific as Philo. Honestly, it's enough to make a person think that Jesus and his deeds are a work of fiction!

I am from Katwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands and Caligula is said to have been here and made the tower of kalla. Evidence has been found from a wine pottery which had his seal on it. He ordered his men to collect sea shells as booty.

It's pretty certain that Caligula was murdered in a tunnel now called the Neronian Cryptoporticus. It is on the Palatine Hill and the public can walk through it. I walked it last May (2023). It is one of the SUPER Sites and requires a special ticket, but it is well worth the small added cost.

What we know, or what we think we know, about Caligula was written by sensationalists and people who didn't like him very much. Bearing this in mind, I don't think Caligula was as bad as he has been made out to be. He was very popular with the people. The senators were jealous of him and feared their loss of power because of his popularity. Caligula wasn't very smart. He pissed off the captain of his imperial body guards by mocking him and making fun of him.

Caligula was a complicated character. He was capable of unthinkable depravity, but what we are told now was evidence of madness may well have been him taunting the establishment of the time, for example making his horse consul. He may never have seriously intended to do this, but it amused him to let other people think he would. The mysterious illness that he suffered when he announced that he was reborn as a god may have made him mentally unstable. The worst emperor? Nero was feckless and incompetent, but let's live a little here. Elagabalus was a disaster. An honourable mention must go to Commodus.

Binge watched 'I' Claudius' again over the last week, Excellent, as before.

Very interessting and well made!

A wonderful historical coverage (video)of the Caligula empire of Rome.... thank you for sharing

I've watched this a few times. Each time has proven rewarding.

Can you imagine if she was your advisor? School would be so great. She really brings Roman history alive. It’s amazing how much of it is still around.

I’m grateful to have discovered this channel today. Absolutely wonderful!

Great use the Chapters/timestamps on this video -- nice to see a documentary taking advantage of optional features like that. Love Mary Beard's presentation and it's nice to have a quick way to revisit specific topics.

This was a great presentation honestly couldnt stop watching as she went on

6:20 I can't believe how similar he looks to the evil kid emporer in game of thrones!

Gosh, I remember looking down from those marvelous cliffs above the Capri villa. Quite a different sentiment now....

12:23-12:36 made me scream laugh because of how she just sort of chuckles about what she just said

Where there's smoke, Dr Beard, there's fire.

Thanks Mary, wonderful narrative.

As soon as I heard the intro, I recognized the great Mary Beard! Incredible narrator, astonishing historical knowledge!

Very good video! As always, very important to take histories with a dollop of salt though as testimonies and records are usually not totally accurate

the greatest threat to elites is other elites

Love Mary Beard, she’s just so engaging

Nero has entered the chat.

The 1979 movie Caligula was amazing, and shocking, and had an A-list cast.

Thank you that was very good, as well as imformative !!!! Professor Beard is cool 😊

I’d listen to Mary read the yellow pages. So calming. History ASMR

Very good ..thx

Well, put it this way: He was bad enough that his own bodyguards killed him after only four years on the throne. Considering that his predecessor Tiberius was a greedy, paranoid, unscrupulous thug and yet still managed to reign for twenty three years says a lot in my mind to just how crazy and incompetent Little Boots really was. Yes, he was terrible - rivalled in all Roman history only by Nero, Commodus, and Elagabalus (Caracalla and Honorius also get dishonorable mentions).

Good stuff

I see she still touches priceless artifacts with her bare hands. Into the Tiber.

mary brings the roman empire to life

I was fortunate enough to work at Cambridge University for 8 years and studied Roman architecture for my BSc. I wish I had taken the opportunity to chat with her.. I am a member of the senate House!

I'm from near Rome and this incredibly well done video has made me want to visit a Museum. Many of us Italians take all this for granted.

Brilliantly related by an awesome historian 👍👌👏

Professor Mary stylin those gold high-tops ❤❤

It was Tiberius who said "Let them hate me so long as they fear me ", not Caligula.

Why would anyone object to the name “Caligula?” He had a friend named “Biggus Dickus.”

Multiple hats off to Mary Beard. Superb indeed, every step of the way.

One if Caligula's favorite sayings was "Too much if a good thing is wonderfu...uh, no wait, that was Liberace. 😅

When I think back on my university days I think that I would have gotten on quite well with Caligula. We had similar interests and lifestyle preferences. It would have been a case of one outdoing the other. You would have had to be robust to keep up.

Tive o prazer de ler duas obras da Mestre Mary Beard. 👏👏📚

Mary Beard is a star.❤❤ You get the sense that self preservation was key in the empirial family- survival at all cost meant that you had to kiss goodby compassion, family sense and humanity. It makes perfect sense because those are concepts that we gained from christianity, who only became prevalelent in Rome with Konstantin in the 4. century.

"You really think a crown give you power?" "No. I think armies give you power."

once again, i am thinking of Rome

very interesting and well researched video. I do wonder, though, that you do not wear gloves when touching the relics and artifacts (especially coins etc).?

Looking at the considerable height of that cliff on Capri, I can’t imagine anyone still being alive at the bottom, to be finished off with the oars of Tiberius’ troops.

Chaos and instability produce violence ......well that is a basic law which was and is true since all times. I love to watch and listen Mary Beard - awesome presentation bringing the roman times to life!

It seems like she has to touch all the historical plaques-like a bad tourist

The Roman museum MB refers to around 4 minutes into the video is in Xanten and not Zantan as in the transcript

34:35 * insert Hair Conditioner Advert here *

I like Mary Beards programme's she's very knowledgeable , i have read her book about Pompeii

I just wish that some of Claudius writings had survived.

Im actually surprised how much I enjoyed this. I was expecting a full dive into how Caligula was a sick monster based on sources well after his death like always and ignoring the fact that there is actual archeological evidence of huge public infrastructure improvements during his time. Genuinely reckon he was the best emperor therefore had to be smeared the most by later senators and this balanced view gave me much to consider that challenges that notion in such a way that you would actually want from a documentary. Fair play Mary.

Mary's brilliant

56:00 Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!

Well done ! I have to get to Rome one day

Excellent history lesson by someone who knows their stuff...

I bet this is a great video! I would have no idea, because there’s an ad literally every two minutes and I cannot handle that BS.

Thank yoou.

Mary Beard what a historian

Mary Beard! Excellent Roman historian. Caligula, started with so much promise! Excellent pedigree,his father Germanicus was the best Emperor Rome never had. But Caligula was dealing with some childhood trauma thanx to an aging suspicious Tiberius. So we should remember this when judging him. Some what tragic figure.

Fabulous

You got it quite right. Describe Caligula how you will, what he was not was unusual.

Bootkins? tehe... poor guy.. Loved this and loved the presenter!

Great documentary. One thing though. She constantly says Cesar, but in those days it was pronounced as kaisar. So Julius Ceasar, was spoken as iulius kaisar.

It was suggest he may have gone mad by consuming heavy metals from the lead they used for cups and other utensils

Up there at least.

I just keep thinking of that movie with the stunning Helen Mirren...

@27:00 and throughout - Good Grief! Who in the world agreed she could touch the artefacts? And why would she? That is museum "no-no" 101.......

Did the assassins really just get more of the same? Wasn't Claudius a preferable improvement for Rome?

41:57 "without the the military pedigree" - but he had one, the video talks how prominent military leader his father was.

I wonder what "lead" to their insanity

I never realized until seeing Mary's fine video that the man himself would be actually dismayed that 2000 years later he is known as Caligula. (meaning to him "little boots") His proper name was apparently "Gaius." But from our modern American point of view, "Caligula" is MUUUCH better! It's a distinctive and powerful name to US, nor does it mean anything to us about little booties. Haha!😊

Elagabalus: sure...

Near the end, the scene with the bust of Claudius, I am reminded of the last lines of the Who song We Won't Get Fooled Again, "Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss."

Yes, 2013. This objectivity is not allowed today. A new aera of thought control by language has started, too early in the game to be noted by many. But 2016 will mark this significant blow over in history, or the latest 2020, for future historians, documenting the end of the West.

great

Mary Beard rules.

Well, Tiberius having kids nibble his balls has scared me for life!!!! 🤮

Mary Beard serves such a delicious Roman course! The details and the eloquence of her narrative are truly inspirational , especially in the manner with which she brings the ancient times to life! 🏛🏛🏛

A gladiator once surrendered to 5 opponent's in the games and he was given the thumb by the people in fear he quickly picked up his trident and killed all 5 opponent's nobody knows the details of how exactly he was able to do this but it's said that when Caligula heard about it he was so disgusted that he ordered the death of the gladiator. A perfect example of getting out of the frying pan and into the Furnace.

Excellent documentary.

His grandfather was Agrippa and although his ancestor was one of the greatest Romans ever lived. He hated the fact that he was his ancestor due to Agrippa’s humble origins and spread false rumours about Augustus and his daughter Julia.

6:19 if you don’t look at that face and see Joffrey Baratheon, I’d be shocked.