Germanicus would leave first, Caligula staying home with his mother and brothers preparing to bring additional supplies and soldier to the camp in the north.
When the family arrived to the camp reuinting with Germanicus, Caligula was dressed in the uniform of a Legionary, to the happiness of the troops. This is where he received the nickname "Little Boots."
News soon came of the death of Augustus and ascension of Tiberius as the new emperor. The legions took the opportunity to revolt, demanding money and time served.
Germanicus and Agrippina were able to suppress the revolt, conceding money from his own pocket to satisfy the soldiers. Once complete, he then led them on campaigns lasting two and a half years. His greatest triumph was returning the lost eagles stolen during the defeat at the battle of Teutoburg Forest.
Germanicus was recalled to Rome where he rode in his one and only triumph.
Germanicus would then receive a command in the east. With him he took Caligula and his pregnant wife. They stopped at the sight of the battle of Actium, a conflict between Caligula's ancestors.
On the island of Lesbos Caligula's sister Julia Livilla was born. The locals deified her upon birth, likely a reason Caligula did so upon her death many years later.
The family would travel to Syria. After having a dispute with Piso, Caligula and Germanicus traveled to Egypt, much to the anger of Tiberius.
Upon returning to Syria, Germanicus fell ill and died. Rome went into mourning. Caligula's hero and father was dead.
Caligula would move into the home of his great grandmother Livia, former wife of the late Augustus.
Caligula would continue his education under Livia while he mother and brother furthered their own careers. In AD 29 she would die of old age. Caligula would make his first public appearance giving her eulogy at the funeral.
Caligula would then move to his grandmother Antonia's home while his own career and education continued
During this time his mother and brothers were arrested for treason. His mother and brother Nero were exiled, Drusus was imprisoned.
It was this time that Antonia alerted Tiberius of conspiracy to end the last of Germanicus' male descendants to which Caligula was then removed to the island of Capri. He would live here until he became emperor himself.
While on the island he would learn the fate of his family, their deaths causing him to spiral into depression.
Whether it was out of compassion, or just necessity, Tiberius gave Caligula a wife. The daughter of the emperor's friend Marcus Junius Silanus. From what we can tell, their relationship was a happy one. They enjoyed each others company.
But this wouldn't last. Caligula was destined for tragedy as his wife would die in childbirth a year into the marriage. He was alone again.
From there he would do his duty laying low until Tiberius died. Upon the late emperor's death the Legions proclaimed Caligula the new emperor.
He would lead the funeral procession and the body of Tiberius back to Rome.
After the funeral he addressed the senate, proclaiming the days of terror with the treason trials were over. A new age of peace had begun under his watch, he would tell them.
His next move was to sail to the islands still holding the ashes of his mother and brother. He had them dug up and brought back to Rome.
Caligula returned to Rome, depositing the missing ashes into the Mausoleum of Augustus where they belonged.
Things went well for the young emperor, but he was to fall ill, near to the point of death. Rome held it's breath awaiting news.
He would recover, but after learning of those plotting against him and attempting, he would enact a swift revenge. Part of his life that is attested to his madness, but was no different from the treason trials under his predecessor, the proscriptions under Augustus, and Sulla before him.
The conspirators were put down, but the overall mood was still hostile. Caligula decided this was a good time to leave the city and check on the legions preparing to invade Brittania. He expected a good time as he spent most of his childhood among the soldiers.
To his surprise, the legions were is disrepair. A lack of discipline had left them in poor shape. Caligula sacked the man in charge replacing him with someone who could prepare them properly. To humiliate them, the army was sent to pick seashells from the shore to Brittain.
He then returned to Italy, but with tensions still high he took a detour to the Bay of Baiae, calling on as many triremes and fishing boats as possible to create a bridge across the bay.
After riding across this monumental structure with his friends he then threw a huge party in the middle on some of the boats stationed there. Now it was time to return to Rome...and the chariot races!
While his war with the senate would continue, he set on a new mission. He needed an heir. He found Milonia Caesonia and quickly fell in love.
She gave him a son. The dynasty was secure for the time being.
Caligula would continue associating with the lower classes, spending time with poets and actors. He issued a decree allowing slaves to persecute their masters. Then, soon after being seen in public impersonating a god, him with his wife and child were murdered. The dynasty of Germanicus was finally over.
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