Rob Morgan writes:
I’ve just been reading a review of a Pen & Sword book, Caligula: An Unexpected General, by Lee Fratantuono.
Now Caligula (37-41AD), one of the 53 (out of 175) Roman Emperors murdered or killed in battle, is usually remembered as a bit of a party animal.
Well, this volume describes his outstanding skills at war, and says that ‘he proved a competent military strategist’.
Anyone know any more?
Hi Rob,
Many thanks for the heads up on the Caligula book. I did a very quick Google search to see if I could find anything that supported Mr. Fratrantuono’s assessment. Hardly a rigourous or scholarly course of action, but I don’t have anything on Caligula in my own library, so needs must!
Most, if not all, web posts I found regurgitated the ‘traditional’ history which you alluded to. A handful mentioned his campaign in Gaul, which he apparently ‘plundered thoroughly’,. The same authors also noting his sudden change of tack upon reaching the Channel, where he allegedly had his troops gather sea shells, as the spoils of war.
I can only assume that the revised assessment of Caligula’s military ability is associated with his campaign in Gaul? Some of the commentators I read online stressed how hard it was finding information on Caligula, and I note that after his death, there was apparently a concerted effort by the Roman government, to erase him from history. It would appear that either Mr Fratantuono has found new primary source material, or has been able to develop an alternate assessment of Caligula’s military ability based on the same material used by other scholars with the ‘traditional’ view?
I don’t have anything new to add, but I enjoyed the diversion you gave me into a part of ancient history I hadn’t really looked at before!
Cheers
G