The time of Caesar was unstable as there were many civil wars. It was a question of who should be ruler and Julius finally obtained control-on the battlefield many lost their lives and families were left without fathers, sons and husbands. Yet Rome as a republic turned to a dictatorship and Julius having that much power made some individuals nervous, so he was murdered.
Caesar was pre-empire but the ideals of Rome of being a monarchy/republic/empire had not changed over the years. Rome was a powerful state and unlimited power meant more then responsibilities, it was an opportunity for an ruler to do what he wished- Julius Caesar took this ideal to the extreme which meant control over all Rome.
This affected many Romans as they didn't have much of a say, they were used to a republic and a dictatorship meant the return to the days of the monarchy. Thus what choice did they have, but Julius' death would then bring about a new age...that of Augustus.
Caligula would face the same issues as Julius. He was not a compassionate ruler and his four-year reign was not popular.
He was born in 12 AD to Agrippina and Germanicus. Germanicus was a high-ranking soldier in the Roman army who had died four years after Caligula's birth.
Caligula's formal name was Caius Julius Caesar Germanicus and ironically his middle names are that of the great dictator. It is so ironical that his life would emulate Caesar's.
Caligula's life would also emulate that of Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Remus, the brothers who founded Rome, would not rule Rome as co rulers; Romulus killed Remus because he stepped outside Rome's boundaries.
It was a ruthless act but Caligula would also kill Tiberius Gellimus who Tiberius nominated as a co ruler so Caligula became the sole ruler. But he was thought to be too ill to rule, some even considered him insane because his decision-making was outrageous. For example, he had spent money on inappropriate projects.
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