Caligula was the first assassinated Roman emperor

The Romans killed Caligula, which is one of the least liked historical truths. The populace believed they had had enough of this type of leadership after a string of erratic and foolish decisions. The Praetorian guards, who were waiting for him to return from Gaul, stabbed him more than 30 times when he was just 29 years old. The third was headed by Cassius Chaerea, a soldier of the Praetorian Guard (the army closest to the emperor).

Given that Caligula humiliated him in public and played cruel practical jokes on him, Chaereas motivations appear to have been personal. Chaerea sought assistance from others, including a fellow tribune and one of his superiors, a prefect of the Praetorian Guard, in his quest for vengeance. He failed to secure explicit support. However, he revealed his plans to a trusted colleague, another tribune, Cornelius Sabinus, and the pair became the principal players in the plot to end the emperor’s life.