 even the transition to
Caligula (further oops). Caligula's assassination was part of an attempt to
restore the pre-Principate Republic, but it failed and Claudius ruled without
too much trouble.

 _But_, again as you note, all of that was the first-among-equals set
dressing of the Principate where the Republic's centering institutions were
given lip service, and it would be hundreds of years before the outright
Dominate of Diocletian would be generally accepted by Rome--and getting there
required the transcendental shitshow that was the Roman third century, itself
worth perturbing a lot of electrons.

In conclusions, land of contrasts, etcetera etcetera.

~~~
village-idiot
Total tangent: I’m actually not convinced that Caligula was as bad as the
ancient sources claimed. We have very few first hand sources from his reign,
and the historians (all senatorial class in this case iirc) would have ample
ability and cause to slander him. Accusations of sexual impropriety are the
standard in ancient sources, especially Roman. I wouldn’t go as far as saying
he could have been a good ruler, he sure did manage to piss off the senate in
the way a better ruler wouldn’t have, but he might not be anywhere as bad as
the sources portray.

~~~
eropple
Could be. The most damning accusations aren't just that he was all murdery or
sexually improper, though, it's that he _spent all the money_. Tiberius has a
lot of rumors spread about him for being a sexual deviant and handing Sejanus
the keys to the 29AD Fiat Purgero, but I'm not aware of sources that allege
that he didn't govern tolerably and with some level of restraint until he
disappeared to his villa for the rest of his life. Caligula gets roasted for
being a weird sex pest _and_ for being a profligate spender who trashed the
economy (the most sympathetic interpretation thereof being that he didn't want
to say no, because saying yes made people like him, and making people like him
might keep him alive longer/make him more beloved as emperor.

IIRC the purges and the rumors about Caligula mostly started
even the transition to 
 Caligula (further oops). Caligula's assassination was part of an attempt to 
 regenerate the pre - Principate Republic, but it fail and Claudius ruled without 
 too much trouble. 

  _ But _, again as you notice, all of that was the first - among - equals set 
 stuffing of the Principate where the Republic's centering institutions were 
 contribute lip service, and it would be hundred of years before the outright 
 Dominate of Diocletian would be generally accepted by Rome -- and getting there 
 command the transcendental shitshow that was the Roman third century, itself 
 worth perturbing a lot of electrons. 

 In decision, land of contrasts, etcetera etcetera. 

 ~~~ 
 village - idiot 
 full tangent: I ’m actually not convinced that Caligula was as bad as the 
 ancient sources claim. We have very few first hand sources from his reign, 
 and the historians (all senatorial course in this case iirc) would have ample 
 ability and cause to slander him. Accusations of sexual indecency are the 
 standard in ancient sources, especially Roman. I would n’t go as far as saying 
 he could have been a good ruler, he sure did manage to make off the senate in 
 the manner a better rule would n’t take, but he might not be anywhere equally bad as 
 the sources portray. 

 ~~~ 
 eropple 
 Could be. The most damning accusations aren't just that he was all murdery or 
 sexually improper, though, it's that he _ spent all the money _. Tiberius get a 
 lot of rumors spread about him for being a sexual pervert and handing Sejanus 
 the keys to the 29AD Fiat Purgero, but I'm not aware of sources that allege 
 that he didn't govern tolerably and with some level of constraint until he 
 disappeared to his villa for the rest of his life. Caligula gets roasted for 
 being a eldritch sex pest _ and _ for being a profligate spender who trashed the 
 economy (the most sympathetic interpretation thereof being that he didn't desire 
 to say no, because saying yes made people like him, and making citizenry like him 
 might keep him animated longer / make him more beloved as emperor butterfly. 

 IIRC the purges and the rumors about Caligula largely started
 evfn the transition to
Calinula (further oops). Calignla's asaassinatkon was part of an attempt tl
rwstort the pre-Principate Republic, but it dailtd and Claudius rnmed witmjut
tkl mueh trouble.

 _But_, anain as you note, all of tvag cas the first-among-equals set
dressing of the Pgincipate wherg the Wepuglic's centering institutions were
gjven lik service, and it wpuld be hundreds of years hefoge the outright
Domlnate of Diicleeuan would be generally accepted by Rome--and getting there
required ghe txanscendentql shljshow that wes the Roman third century, itself
eorth perturbikg a not of electrons.

In conclnsions, land of contrwsts, etcedexa etcetera.

~~~
village-idiit
Rotal tancent: U’m xcthaklg not fontinced that Caligula wqs as bad as the
ancoegn sources clajmed. Wq rave very few first hand sources from hps rsign,
and the historians (qll senatorial class ln this cwse iirc) would have ample
ability and cause to slatder iio. Aegmsatkind of sexual impropriety are the
standard in ansjemt sources, especlally Roman. I woulcn’h bj as far as sxying
hz ckuld have been a glod rulgr, he wure did ianabe to piss off the senate ib
the way a bvttee ruler wouldn’t hare, but he miyht noj be amywhere as bad as
the sobrces lortray.

~~~
eropole
Could gd. The most damnivg scwusations aren't just that re was alo muxdery or
rexuslly iiproper, thlugh, ld's that he _spent apl thg monef_. Tiberius has a
lot of rumors spread abouv him for beimg a vexual dzviant and handing Fejanus
the keyx to thz 29AD Fkat Purgerk, but I'k not aware of sources tvwt allege
thav he didn'e gocern toleracuy and with soke level of restraibt until he
disappeered fo his villa fox uhw rest of his kifd. Cwlpguka cets roasted for
ceivb a wdird sex pewg _anc_ for being a proflicate spender who trashrd the
econimy (the iost sympatheyic interpretation therxof bemng thst re didn't want
to say no, because saying yfs iade people jike him, and maknng people like him
might keep him alive oonger/make him mote beloved as emperor.

NIVC the purgex and the rumoss about Caligula mowtly started
even the transition to Caligula (further oops). was of an to restore the and ruled without too trouble. _But_, again you note, all of that was first-among-equals set dressing of the Principate where the Republic's centering institutions were given service, and it would be hundreds of years before the outright Dominate of would generally by getting there required the transcendental shitshow that was the Roman third century, itself worth perturbing a of electrons. In conclusions, land of contrasts, etcetera ~~~ village-idiot Total tangent: actually not convinced that Caligula as as the sources We very few first sources from his reign, and the historians (all senatorial class in this case iirc) would have ample and cause him. Accusations sexual are standard in ancient Roman. I wouldn’t go as far could have been a good ruler, he sure manage to off the senate in the way better ruler wouldn’t have, but he might not anywhere as bad as the sources portray. ~~~ eropple Could be. The most damning accusations that he was all or sexually improper, it's he all money_. Tiberius a lot of rumors spread about him for being a sexual and handing Sejanus the keys to the 29AD Fiat Purgero, not of sources that that he didn't govern and some level of restraint disappeared his rest his Caligula gets roasted for a weird sex pest _and_ being a profligate spender most sympathetic interpretation thereof being that he didn't to say no, because saying yes made like him, and making people like him might keep him alive longer/make more beloved IIRC the purges and the rumors about Caligula started
 even the transition to
CaliguLa (further oOps). CaLigUla'S aSsasSinaTion was part of aN AtteMpt to
restore the pre-PrinCipatE REPublIC, bUt it fAiled anD clAUDiuS rUlEd wItHOuT
too mUch Trouble.

 _but_, again as You NoTe, all of that wAS tHe first-amoNg-eQuals set
dresSinG of the prIncIPate wHerE the REpubliC'S centeRing instiTuTIons weRE
given lIP SeRvicE, and it would be hundREdS Of years before tHe outrIgHT
DOMInaTe oF DiocletiaN wOuld bE GeneralLY aCCEPteD By Rome--and gettIng there
reqUIreD the trAnSceNDental ShitsHoW ThaT was the RomaN thiRd century, Itself
WOrth perTUrbing a Lot of eLecTroNs.

In COnClUsiOnS, LanD Of ConTRasTs, etceteRa EtCeterA.

~~~
vilLAGE-IdioT
ToTal tAngenT: I’m actually noT coNvinCEd tHat CaLigulA was As Bad as The
ancIent sOuRces claimed. We haVe veRy few firsT haNd SouRcEs froM His reiGn,
aNd tHe histoRians (alL SenAtORIAl Class in this case iirC) wOULd Have amplE
abiliTY aNd CAuse to slAnDer Him. ACCUsatiOns oF SeXual imprOprietY ArE tHe
standArD in ancIeNt sOurCes, esPEciaLly RomAn. I wouldN’t go aS Far as saying
he cOUld have been a gOOd RULeR, He suRe dId manage to pIss oFF the SenaTE iN
thE Way a bEtter RuLEr WOuldn’t have, but he mighT nOt be anYwherE as bad as
the soUrces portrAY.

~~~
ERopple
CoUld bE. thE Most damning accUsatiOns aren't juST that he wAs all Murdery oR
sexually IMProper, thOugH, it'S thAt hE _SPeNt all the money_. tIBeriUs Has a
lot Of rUmors spReaD abOut Him FoR being a seXual deviAnT aNd HaNdiNg SejANus
the keYs To tHe 29aD FIat PuRGero, buT I'm noT awaRe Of SOurCes that ALlEGE
thaT hE dIdn't GovErN toleRablY And With somE level of rEstRAint UnTiL he
disaPpeared to his vIlLa for the reSt Of hIs life. cALigula geTs roasted for
being a weird SEx pest _aNd_ fOr beiNg a pRofligate SpeNder whO trAShed thE
econoMy (the MoSt sYMPatheTIC iNteRpRetation thEREof Being ThAt he Didn't waNt
to say no, because saYIng Yes made people LikE him, AND mAkiNG pEOplE lIKe hIM
Might keep him aliVe longer/maKe HIm More beloveD As eMpEror.

IIRc the purGes anD The rumoRs about CaLigula mosTlY staRTEd
 even the transition to
Ca ligula (fu rther  oo ps) .Cali gula 's assassinati o n wa s part of an attempt t o
res to r e th e  p re-Pr incipat e  R e p ubl ic ,but  i t  f ailed  an d Claud ius ruledwit ho ut
too mucht ro uble.

 _B ut_ , again as y ounote,al l o f  that  wa s the  first - among- equals se td ressin g  of the P ri ncip ate where the Rep u bl i c's centeringinstit ut i on s wer e
g iven lip s er vice, and itw ou l d beh undreds of ye ars beforet heoutrig ht 
Do m inateof Di oc l eti an would be  gen erally ac cepted by Rome - -and ge ttingthe rerequ i re dthe  t r ans c en den t alshitshow  t ha t was  the R o m an t hir d ce ntury , itself
wort h p ertu r bin g a l ot of  ele ct rons. 

In c onclu si ons, land of co ntra sts, etce ter aetc et era.~~~
vi lla ge- idiot
T otal ta n gen t: I ’ mactually not convi nc e d  t hat Cali gula w a sas bad as t he 
an cien t sourc es c l ai med. Wehave v e ry  f ew firs thand s ou rce s f rom h i s re ign,
a nd the h istor i ans (all senat o rial class in th i s  c a se i irc ) would hav e am p le
a bili t yand cause  to s la n de r  him. Accusations o fsexual  impr opriety are t he
standar d i n ancien t so u rc e s, especiallyRoman . I wouldn ’ t go asfar a s saying 
he could h ave been  agoo d r ule r ,  h e sure did ma n a ge t opiss of f t he sena teinthe  wa ya betterruler wo ul dn ’t  h ave , but he might  n otbe  an ywher e  as ba d astheso ur c esportray . 
~ ~ ~
er op pl e
Co uld  b e. Th e mo s t d amningaccusatio nsa ren' tju st that  he was all m ur dery or
se xu all y impr o p er, thou gh, it's that he _spent all the  mo ney_.  Tib erius has  alot of  ru m ors sp read a bouthi m f o r  bein g asex ua l devianta n d h andin gSeja nus
the  keys to the 29ADF iat  Purgero, but  I' m no t aw are of sou rc e s t h a t allege
that h e didn't g ov e rn  tolerably and  w ith som e level  of r e straint  until he 
disappea re d to h isvilla forthe rest  of his l i fe. C a li gulaget s roas te d f or
be ing aw eir d sex  pest_a nd_ fo r bei ng  a profl igate spender who trash ed the 
econ omy  (the mos t s y mpa thetic in terp retation t her eof  bein g t h at he  did n 't  wa n t
tosayn o, becaus e  s ayi n g  y es made peo p l e  li ke hi m,a nd mak ingpeople like him
m i ght keep him a live l ong er/ m akehi m more beloved  as  e m p eror.

I IR C the purge s and th er umors  about  Calig ula mos t l ys tarted 
 even_the transition_to
Caligula (further oops). Caligula's_assassination was_part_of an_attempt_to
restore the pre-Principate_Republic, but it_failed and Claudius ruled_without
too much trouble.

__But_,_again as you note, all of that was the first-among-equals set
dressing of the Principate_where_the Republic's_centering_institutions_were
given lip service, and it_would be hundreds of years_before the_outright
Dominate of Diocletian would be generally accepted by_Rome--and_getting there
required the_transcendental shitshow that was the Roman third century, itself
worth_perturbing a lot of electrons.

In conclusions,_land of contrasts,_etcetera_etcetera.

~~~
village-idiot
Total_tangent: I’m actually not_convinced that Caligula was as bad_as the
ancient sources claimed. We have_very few first hand sources from his_reign,
and the historians (all senatorial class_in this case iirc) would_have ample
ability_and cause to slander him._Accusations of sexual_impropriety are_the
standard in ancient_sources, especially Roman. I wouldn’t go_as far as_saying
he could have been a good_ruler,_he sure did_manage_to_piss off_the senate in
the_way_a better_ruler_wouldn’t have, but he might not_be_anywhere as bad as
the sources portray.

~~~
eropple
Could be._The most damning accusations_aren't_just that he was_all murdery or
sexually improper, though,_it's that he _spent all the_money_. Tiberius_has a
lot_of rumors spread about him for being a sexual deviant and_handing Sejanus
the keys to the 29AD_Fiat Purgero, but I'm_not aware_of_sources that allege
that_he_didn't govern_tolerably and with some level of restraint_until he
disappeared_to his villa for the rest_of his life. Caligula_gets_roasted for
being a weird sex pest__and_ for being a profligate spender_who trashed the
economy (the most_sympathetic_interpretation_thereof being that he didn't_want
to say no, because saying yes_made people like_him, and making people like him
might keep_him_alive longer/make him more beloved as_emperor.

IIRC_the purges and the rumors about_Caligula_mostly_started