The history of the Roman Empire is filled with fascinating tales of power, excess, and intrigue, some of which blur the lines between fact and fiction. One of the most famous, and often questioned, stories is that of Emperor Caligula's alleged decision to appoint his horse, Incitatus, as a senator. This claim has been passed down through the centuries and remains a popular anecdote in discussions of Caligula's erratic and often cruel reign. But did Caligula truly make his horse a member of the Senate, or is this a tale fabricated over time to illustrate his madness?

The Reign of Caligula

Caligula, born Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, ruled as emperor from AD 37 to AD 41. His reign was marked by extravagance, cruelty, and a dramatic shift in imperial governance. He began his time as emperor with promises of fairness and relief for the Roman people, but over time, his behavior became increasingly erratic. Many ancient sources depict him as a tyrant who was feared by those around him, including his own family. Caligula’s eccentricities are well documented: he would often indulge in extravagant spending, engage in brutal acts of violence, and pursue a series of religious and political reforms that alienated many.

The claim about Caligula and his horse is first mentioned in ancient historical texts, but it is important to consider the sources and the context in which these accounts were written.

Ancient Sources and the Horse Appointment

The earliest accounts of Caligula’s relationship with his horse come from historians like Suetonius, Cassius Dio, and Josephus. Suetonius, in his work The Twelve Caesars, provides the most famous reference. He claims that Caligula loved his horse Incitatus so much that he gave it a marble stall, an ivory manger, purple blankets, and even a house with servants. However, the most sensational claim is that Caligula intended to make Incitatus a consul, the highest elected office in the Roman Republic.

Suetonius writes:

"He (Caligula) is said to have planned to make his horse Incitatus a consul, and would have done so, had not his assassination intervened."

Cassius Dio also touches on this, stating that Caligula promised to make his horse a consul to mock the Senate and perhaps as an expression of his absolute power. Dio writes:

“He made preparations for the consulship of his horse, calling him consul and setting him up with a house of marble.”

These claims, though dramatic, are not entirely clear on whether Caligula actually went through with making his horse a senator or consul. The accounts suggest that it might have been a form of mockery directed at the Senate, who Caligula despised and often belittled. He frequently used his power to insult the Senate and undermine its authority, and the idea of appointing a horse as a consul may have been a way to demonstrate just how meaningless he believed the Senate's position was. shutdown123