The Book of Emperors: A Translation of the Middle High German Kaiserchronik

V. Caius Caligula (Jovinus Legend)

90 V Caius Caligula (Jovinus Legend) Gaius or Caius Caligula (r. 37–41) presided over a short reign increasingly characterized by decadence and a display of arbitrary power, exemplified in his making his horse a consul. He plays no meaningful part in our author’s version of the legend of the unquenchable fiery abyss in Rome’s early days. The story of a hero riding his horse into a fiery hole as a sacrifice to save Rome belongs to the legendary Marcus Curtius. Our author combines the basic plot with the story of a man destined for future sacrifice being given women aplenty in the time leading up to his death. The story has different roots. In ancient Roman legend, Marcus Curtius was simply a model hero, offering his life for the common good. In this version his heroism is offset by his bargaining to have carnal access to all the women who strike his fancy, and our author notes that he is burning in hell because of that. In general the church in the Middle Ages did not condemn heroes and heroines for making great sacrifices for Rome or to preserve their honors. The point, as articulated by Saint Augustine, is this: if benighted pagans were willing to make great sacrifices for false gods and worldly fame, how much more should Christians cheerfully sacrifice themselves with the knowledge that they will obtain eternal life? This is probably one of our author’s reasons for including this story among his imperial biographies. Another likely motive is to highlight the miserable relationship between god and man that prevailed in pagan times, in contrast with Christian ones. Caius Caligula 91 the Book tells us that now Caius held the Empire. In his reign great misery plagued Rome, as an abyss opened and hellfire broke out. Neither water nor wine was any good in fighting it, nor could any of it be stamped out. In the city, from which constant cries of anguish rose, there was great suffering. Many died in the stench of its fumes. The Romans had no idea how to cope with it, although they asked the advice of many men known for their wisdom. Finally they brought their sacrifices to a temple for prayer. Its god was Jupiter, whose power controlled the weather, and they prayed to him very fervently that he would save them from the fire. They promised him that they would heighten and spread his reputation with outpourings of public praise for his help. Jupiter answered them then, and this cheered the Romans greatly. “Make haste, now,” he said, “to meet and decide among yourselves whom you would choose as a noble knight for me. Deck him out with gold and precious stones. Make every effort to see that he has the finest cloth to cover his horse and then tell him to take the flag and ride into the fire. No one is to force him to do this. Only if this be of his own free will shall I accept him as your sacrifice and forgive you your guilt. I was about to condemn all of you to be lost, but in this way I will quell my anger. The moment this sacrifice will be brought to me you will not need to worry about the fire anymore.” The Romans asked all around from man to man, each one individually . They consulted with one another about who would be both worthy enough for the sacrifice and willing to be persuaded to carry it out, saying that if he redeemed them from their misery then all his family should be rewarded magnificently. Together throughout the day they tried to come to some decision. Finally a man named Jovinus stepped from the crowd and went to stand on higher ground. Then he asked for silence and said, “If you will do as I want you to do, I am ready and willing to take on the feat and take care of the threatening fire for all of you.” The Romans raised high their hands, telling him that whatever his will might be, there would be no Roman who would object to his having what he wanted. If there were, that man would be thrown into that very fire. 92 Chapter Five “Then let there be no woman in Rome, either maid or married woman , that you will not allow me to have as a...