Caligula
Caligula (12 – 41), born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, was the third Emperor of Rome, reigning from 37 CE until his death.[1]
Biography
Because the Order of the Ancients supported and influenced Caligula's reign,[2] the Roman Hidden One Leonius assassinated him on 24 January 41 CE with a dagger in an underground corridor beneath the Palatine Hill.[3] Leonius' assassination made him a legendary figure among the Assassins and, by the time of the Renaissance, he was commemorated with both a dedicated statue in the Sanctuary beneath the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni[3] and a tomb beneath the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione in Venice, Italy.[4]
In 1503, the Italian Assassin Ezio Auditore compared the Italian Templar and Captain General of the Church Cesare Borgia to Caligula due to his cruel and tyrannical manner of ruling.[5]
Behind the scenes
Caligula is a historical figure first mentioned in the 2009 video game Assassin's Creed II. Historically, he was assassinated by three of his Praetorian Guard, led by Cassius Chaerea. Although named in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar, his father Germanicus often brought him to the battlefield dressed in a miniature military outfit, an act for which Germanicus' soldiers in the Roman army affectionately coined "Caligula", or "little boot" in Latin, from "caligae", the name of their standard issue sandal-boots.[1]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed II (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel (mentioned only)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Caligula on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed II – Floating conversations: "Unlocking Monteriggioni's Secrets"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Visitazione's Secret
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel – [citation needed]