Index Of Caligula |top|

The Index of Caligula, also known as the "Index Caligulae" or "Caligula's Index", is a term used to describe a collection of ancient Roman documents that were compiled during the reign of Emperor Caligula (37-41 AD).

Assassination (41 CE)

: After only four years of power, he was murdered by the Praetorian Guard . Caligula: The First Mad Emperor of Rome

The Theatrical Cut:

A condensed version focusing on the political drama. index of caligula

Was the Index real? Most modern historians are skeptical. They argue that the story serves a clear political purpose: it retroactively justifies the assassination of Caligula and absolves Claudius of any purge. By claiming there was a "list of enemies," the new regime could frame the killing as self-defense by the entire Senate.

The index of Caligula serves as a comprehensive record of his actions, policies, and excesses during his reign. This catalog provides valuable insights into the emperor's psyche and the events that shaped his rule. Some notable entries in the index of Caligula include: The Index of Caligula, also known as the

The "Index of Caligula": Decoding the Infamy of Rome’s Most Controversial Emperor

He established a temple for his own divinity and frequently appeared in public dressed as Hercules, Mercury, or Venus. The Horse Who Would Be Consul Assassination: Murdered by his own Praetorian Guard officers

The Ledger of Accounts (Rationes):

This section was said to list the names of Roman elites—senators, knights, and wealthy provincials—whom Caligula had targeted for execution or financial ruin. Next to each name, he supposedly wrote a note: “A blow of the mullet” (a jocular term for execution) or a specific figure representing the wealth he intended to confiscate. The Index was less a legal document and more a shopping list of death and seizure.