Suetonius Moral Depravity In Gaius Caligula

Gaius Caligula is the fourth biography in Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars. I can confidently say that Suetonius did not like Caligula. I will go over the beginning of the book, and then go into detail on Caligula’s moral depravity. The latter of which will support my belief that Suetonius did not like Caligula.
Suetonius begins the biography describing Caligula’s father, who he says was extremely virtuous and well liked. He wraps up this section by giving a brief overview of Caligula’s family (brothers and sisters, mother). He then talks some of the controversy regarding Caligula’s birthplace. He talks some of the nickname ‘Caligula’. He describes the soldiers’ love for Caligula. At first the Roman people thought of Gaius’ rising as the answer

to their prayers, due to the memory of his father. Suetonius states that Caligula did all that he good to be in good favor with his people. This is quickly soured by the rest of the biography.
After this beginning section, Suetonius quickly gets dirty with describing the many ways in which Caligula was brutal, immoral, and mentally ill. He begins section 22 by saying “So much for Gaius the Emperor; the rest of this history must deal with Gaius the Monster.” Immediately we see Suetonius’ true view of Gaius, and the next 39 sections continue in this theme.
Suetonius goes into quite a bit of detail regarding much of Caligula’s misconduct.

I will divide them into a few categories. The first is his random killings/executions. Suetonius vividly describes a great many times when Caligula, crucified, poisoned, beat to death, or otherwise killed in a great many creative ways, those around him for imagined slights. For example, he sent a tribune to kill the young Tiberius because he had smelled antidote to poison on his breath, when in reality it was medicine for a cold. Suetonius also states that when Gaius found the butchers meat unsatisfactory, he fed criminals to animals indiscriminately. The next category is in his sexual exploits. Suetonius states that, “after inviting a selection of them to dinner with their husbands, he would slowly and carefully examine each as they passed his couch”. He would then select one and leave the banquet with her and discuss her good and bad points. He even cost several divorces in this way. Suetonius also discusses Caligula’s habit of incest with his three sisters. The last category is Suetonius’ description of Gaius’ general unpleasantness. Suetonius states, “He claimed that no personal trait made him feel prouder than his ‘inflexibility’ – by which he must have meant ‘brazen impudence’.” This quote clearly shows Suetonius’ disdain for his general

demeanor.
Clearly although he started his reign well, Caligula was a cruel, immoral, and generally unpleasant individual. Suetonius represents this view of him in his descriptions of his various wrongdoings in the way of murder/executions, sexual shenanigans, and general unpleasantness. Based on these things I can confidently state that Suetonius held Caligula in great disdain.