On This Day

41 Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after the latter's assassination by officers of the Praetorian

41 Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after the latter's assassination by officers of the Praetorian Guard

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August AD 12 – 24 January AD 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Augustus' granddaughter Agrippina the Elder, members of the first ruling family of the Roman Empire. He was born two years before Tiberius became emperor. Gaius accompanied his father, mother and siblings on campaign in Germania, at little more than four or five years old.

Historical Significance

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August AD 12 – 24 January AD 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41.

Key People

Claudius

Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54

Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54

Caligula

Roman emperor from AD 37 to 41

Roman emperor from AD 37 to 41

Events Before

  1. 31 The first Easter is celebrated by Christians, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus

    31 The first Easter is celebrated by Christians, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus

  2. 31 BC Battle of Actium: Decisive naval battle that effectively ends the Roman Republic. Octavian's forces defeat those u

    31 BC Battle of Actium: Decisive naval battle that effectively ends the Roman Republic. Octavian's forces defeat those under Mark Antony and Cleopatra off the western coast of Greece.

  3. 38 BC Roman Republican Leader Octavian, later Augustus 1st Roman Emperor, weds Livia Drusilla

    38 BC Roman Republican Leader Octavian, later Augustus 1st Roman Emperor, weds Livia Drusilla

Events After

  1. 42 BC Second Battle of Philippi: Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Mark Antony and Octavian during the Roman Repub

    42 BC Second Battle of Philippi: Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Mark Antony and Octavian during the Roman Republican civil wars causing Brutus to fall on his sword

  2. 43 BC Octavian, later known as Augustus, compels the Roman Senate to elect him consul

    43 BC Octavian, later known as Augustus, compels the Roman Senate to elect him consul

  3. 43 BC Second Triumvirate alliance of Roman leaders formed by Octavian (later Caesar Augustus), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus,

    43 BC Second Triumvirate alliance of Roman leaders formed by Octavian (later Caesar Augustus), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Mark Antony

  4. 43 BC Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formiae by soldiers under the command of Mark

    43 BC Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formiae by soldiers under the command of Mark Antony

  5. 44 BC Julius Caesar is stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March in Rome

    The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martiae, Medieval Latin: Idus Martii) is the day on the Roman calendar marked as the Idus, roughly the midpoint of a month, of Martius, corresponding to 15 March on the...

More from the 40s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 24, 41?
Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August AD 12 – 24 January AD 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Augustus' granddaughter Agrippina the Elder, members of the first ruling family of the Roman Empire. He was born two years before Tiberius became emperor.
Why is 41 Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after the latter's ... significant?
Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August AD 12 – 24 January AD 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in AD 41.
Who was involved in 41 Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after the latter's ...?
Key figures include Claudius (Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54), Caligula (Roman emperor from AD 37 to 41).

Explore More