Ancient Roman political leaders displayed various eccentric behaviors that, combined with extensive power, sometimes led to dangerous and unpredictable actions.
Notable Roman Figures and Their Peculiarities
Hortensius (114–50 BCE)
The orator and politician Hortensius was known for his fondness for plane trees, which he reportedly watered with wine. He once adjourned a legal case to attend to a dying tree on his estate.
Marcus Licinius Crassus
A contemporary of Hortensius, general and politician Marcus Licinius Crassus kept pet eels, one of which he adorned with jewelry. After its death, Crassus observed a three-day mourning period. The orator Cicero criticized "fishpond lovers" like Hortensius and Crassus for their personal indulgences, suggesting a lack of focus on state affairs. Crassus died in 53 BCE in Mesopotamia during a battle against the Parthians, an event that resulted in the deaths of 20,000 men, including himself and his son.
Emperor Caligula (ruled 37–41 CE)
Following the end of the Roman Republic, imperial rule allowed eccentricities to escalate into violence. Emperor Caligula considered appointing his horse, Incitatus, as consul, providing it with elaborate stables and personal slaves. He also frequently dressed as various divinities and held treason trials, leading to the execution of senators and potential rivals. Historical accounts of Caligula's excesses may have been amplified by his conflicts with the Senate. He was assassinated in 41 CE.
Emperor Nero (ruled 54–68 CE)
Nero, Caligula's nephew, reigned with a reputation for brutality and indulgence. While it is widely debated whether he played music during the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, he subsequently constructed the 300-room Golden House on land cleared by the fire. Nero's public performances as a singer and cithara player, including at a festival he established called the Neronia, were subject to mockery. In 59 CE, he orchestrated the murder of his mother, Agrippina. Nero was declared a public enemy in 68 CE and subsequently took his own life.
Emperor Commodus (ruled 180–192 CE)
Emperor Commodus frequently appeared in the Colosseum, with one historical account stating 735 appearances. He often dressed as Hercules. His reign was marked by cruelty and erratic behavior, notably the murder of his sister Lucilla in 182 CE following suspicions of her involvement in a coup. Commodus was eventually strangled after losing the support of his allies.
Emperor Elagabalus (ruled 218–222 CE)
Elagabalus, who became emperor at age 14, caused considerable scandal in Rome. He broke traditional Roman customs, including marrying a Vestal Virgin. He established a temple in Rome for the god Elagabal, named after him, bringing a sacred black stone from his hometown in Syria. The historian Cassius Dio reported Elagabalus' marriage to a man, Hierocles, and that the emperor preferred to be called by female titles and engaged in traditional female roles. The historical bias makes it difficult to definitively assess whether Elagabalus was transgender.
The article concludes that while the eccentricities of Roman leaders provide interesting historical insight, their concentration of power often led to dangerous and unpredictable governance, in some cases resulting in a reign of terror.