History is full of strange and shocking moments, but few are as bizarre as the story of Caligula, one of Rome’s most infamous emperors. He ruled from AD 37 to AD 41, and his name has become a symbol of madness, cruelty, and excess. Among his many shocking acts, the most unbelievable is that he tried to make his horse, Incitatus, a senator.
Caligula, whose real name was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, became emperor at the young age of 24. At first, the people of Rome loved him, but soon his behavior turned strange and cruel. Historians describe him as unstable, violent, and obsessed with absolute power.
Out of all the bizarre things Caligula did, nothing shocked Rome more than his treatment of his horse, Incitatus. This was not just any horse—it was pampered like royalty. According to records, Caligula gave Incitatus a marble stable, golden food trays, and even servants to take care of him.
Caligula reportedly told senators that Incitatus would be made a consul, one of the highest political offices in Rome. Some accounts say it was a serious plan, while others believe he was mocking the Senate, showing that even a horse could do their job.
Either way, the story shocked the Roman world. For many, it was proof that Caligula had lost his mind.
Caligula’s rule ended after just four years when he was assassinated by his own guards in AD 41. His short reign left behind stories of cruelty, wild parties, and strange behavior that still fascinate people today.
