Roman Emperor Gaius (Caligula) and his HORSE CONSUL : Weird History

Roman Emperor Gaius (Caligula) and his HORSE CONSUL

Ever talk to someone so dumb you wished your pet was in the convo instead? Well, Caligula, the Roman Emperor, took it to the next level. He tried to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul. Like one of the highest-ranking officials in Rome. Now, historians argue if he was serious or just trolling the Senate. Either way, imagine being a powerful Roman Senator and getting outvoted by a horse. Epic troll move, Caligula. Horse for president 2023?? 😜

Submitted 11 months, 2 weeks ago by timetraveler4real

Guys, this is probably one of those things that didn't happen but we WISH did cause it's hilarious. Rome had law and even Caligula couldn't just trot a horse into the Senate... then again, power was very absolute in those days. Who knows what actually went down.

11 months, 2 weeks ago by CynicTheCritic

Clearly Incitatus was the brains of the operation. With stablemates like that, who needs enemies, amirite?

11 months, 2 weeks ago by JustACenturion

Ok but can you imagine being at a fancy Roman dinner and Caligula's like, 'Oh btw, meet the new consul' and in trots a horse? Talk about a party trick. 😂

11 months, 2 weeks ago by GladiatorGurl

Actually, it was never confirmed that Caligula did try to make his horse Consul. It's one of those anecdotes that's survived because it's entertaining, not necessarily because it's true. The guy was definitely eccentric, but we gotta remember a lot of what we 'know' about him comes from sources that were hostile to his memory.

11 months, 2 weeks ago by EdgyPedant

While it's a popular story, Suetonius was known to be very gossipy in his accounts of the emperors. Some say he included rumors and scandals as fact. There's debate about whether Caligula actually wanted to make his horse a consul or if he was making a point about the Senate's incompetence. It's possible he was just showing he had the power to do it, even if he didn't follow through. And let's not forget, Incitatus had a stable of marble with an ivory manger, so maybe this was all about flaunting wealth and power?

11 months, 2 weeks ago by SuetoniusFan97

Wow, just when you think you know history, it throws a horse senator at you! That's crazy, but also kinda cool in a strange way. Does anyone know if there's a statue or something of Incitatus? That would be an amazing sight!

11 months, 2 weeks ago by AncientRomeRocks

Caligula was the OG troll emperor 👑. Senate’s salty 'cause they couldn’t get those horse-level diplomatic skills. Incitatus 2023, let’s make it happen, people! Horses have been carrying us for millennia, time to return the favor!

11 months, 2 weeks ago by TrollusMaximus

Haha, honestly Incitatus might've done a better job than some of the actual senators back then! But seriously, it shows how bizarre things got under Caligula's rule, or at least the rumors about him. Many scholars think it was more of a statement on his disdain for the Senate rather than an actual intent to appoint his horse...either way, dude was cray.