Saint Caligula??!

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A Feast with Caligula
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    • Geon

    Donor
    A Certain Feast

    The Caligula of OTL was supposed to have taken a Senator's wife to bed during a feast he was giving. Here in this TL there is a much different outcome. Also, please note, that if I am off on certain aspects of Roman society than please feel free to correct me. I fully admit that ancient Roman dinner etiquette and entertainment is not a major area I am conversant in.
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    Several days after the Ethics were read in the Senate Caligula gave a feast and invited several Senators and their wives. He also invited Clement and two of the elders in the Roman church and several of the poorest in Rome were also invited. When the poor arrived they were each given fresh new garments and bathed and then each was brought in and seated around the table with the Emperor.

    When the Senators arrived with their wives they were plainly astonished to see the poor of Rome seated at the banquet with the Emperor. But for fear of insulting their host they said nothing. The banquet began and soon it was clear that all were enjoying the fine food and the wines that were provided. But Caligula and Clement and the elders of the church did not eat or drink to excess, while many of the poor and the Senators did. Caligula thought to admonish them but Clement said to him quietly, “Let be, for they are not believers and it is not your place to judge those outside the church.”And Caligula reluctantly agreed.

    When the time came for the evening’s entertainment all were thrilled by the acrobats, especially Caligula who was fond of such displays, and the dancers. Nevertheless the Senators were amazed that the dancers and acrobats were so modestly clothed for often they would perform in the nude for the entertainment of those who dined. For Caligula had decreed before the feast that the acrobats and dancers should not be dressed in an immodest way.

    Then a singer came before the Emperor and began to sing of Jupiter and one of the dalliances he had with a mortal woman. The Emperor became upset and bade the singer cease his ballad.He then rose and said, “Noble Senators, if you would hear something truly beautiful then hear this. He then reached behind his throne and produced two scrolls which he started to read from. Both were from the Hebrew Scriptures translated into the Greek language[1]one was the scroll of the Psalms and the other was the Song of Songs, otherwise known as the Song of Solomon. And Caligula read several passages from the Psalms and the Song and his guests were pleased.

    After Caligula had finished a reading from the Song of Songs he turned to one of the Senators whose wife was particularly beautiful and said, “How fortunate a man you are my good Senator to have such a lovely wife! She is indeed as fair and beautiful as the bride the poet depicts in the Song. May she always bring you joy!” And saying this he proposed a toast to the Senator and his wife. The Senator was quite amazed at this honor and proclaimed that indeed his wife gave him great joy. Whereupon the Emperor bestowed a gift upon the couple and enjoined them to continue to be faithful to one another, “For infidelity today seems to abound more and more,” observed Caligula, “And it is good that such as you Senator set a good example.”

    The evening ended and all left very happy, and before they left each of the poor of Rome was given an extra set of clothing three gold coins and a loaf of fine bread and fruit.

    The next day in the Senate many of the Senators inquired of those who had been at the feast with the Emperor what had happened. And one of the Senators – the one who had been complimented about his wife exclaimed, “The gods themselves could not have enjoyed themselves more last night!” And many in the Senate were astounded.

    Likewise among the poor in Rome many rejoiced at the good fortune of their fellows and praised the Emperor. And many among the poor sought out the Christians of Rome to learn more of the faith.

    [1] i.e. the Septuagint
     
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    • Yuelang

    Yuelang

    Banned
    nice to see our good saint still come a bit unhinged but totally well meaning. But well, let's give him some rest before the trials and tribulations aren't we?
     

    scholar

    Banned
    Well, biblical canon does not exist yet... except for Paul's letters and possibly the first beginnings of the Gospel of Mark and the Q document. Others are highly vulnerable to butterflies, so Saint Caligula may actually end up rewriting the canon of the faith he converted to.
     
    Yuelang

    Yuelang

    Banned
    scholar said:
    Well, biblical canon does not exist yet... except for Paul's letters and possibly the first beginnings of the Gospel of Mark and the Q document. Others are highly vulnerable to butterflies, so Saint Caligula may actually end up rewriting the canon of the faith he converted to.
    Click to expand...

    or maybe not changing biblical canon too much, just more extensive acts of apostoles, with clement considered as apostole as well, perhaps Clements letters will be put into as well, and maybe more extensive documentary about Paul's missionary journeys.

    But well, the post Caligula council of Jerusalem will be funny, ESPECIALLY if Caligula already dies as a martyr.
     

    Tyg

    scholar said:
    Well, biblical canon does not exist yet... except for Paul's letters and possibly the first beginnings of the Gospel of Mark and the Q document. Others are highly vulnerable to butterflies, so Saint Caligula may actually end up rewriting the canon of the faith he converted to.
    Click to expand...

    Caligula's conversion would at the very least result in the full translation of the Hebrew scriptures and probably other Jewish literature into Greek and Latin. I'm a bit skeptical that Caligula would be the one to really organize the canon though, more likely he's just the one to try to get everything written down.

    One interesting facet of all this though is that whatever books of the *Bible that emerge from all this might be translated directly from Hebrew and Aramaic to Latin, rather than being mediated through Greek.
     

    scholar

    Banned
    Yuelang said:
    or maybe not changing biblical canon too much, just more extensive acts of apostoles, with clement considered as apostole as well, perhaps Clements letters will be put into as well, and maybe more extensive documentary about Paul's missionary journeys.

    But well, the post Caligula council of Jerusalem will be funny, ESPECIALLY if Caligula already dies as a martyr.
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    A good deal of the New Testament has not been written yet, and at this stage has not even truly been circulating in the Oral Tradition. So, that's what I mean. It will be butterflied away, especially Revelation and John.

    Caligula's conversion would at the very least result in the full translation of the Hebrew scriptures and probably other Jewish literature into Greek and Latin. I'm a bit skeptical that Caligula would be the one to really organize the canon though, more likely he's just the one to try to get everything written down.
    Click to expand...
    I was thinking more that the change would happen because of Saint Caligula's existence, more so than anything else.
     
    And a Child Shall Lead Them
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    • Geon

    Donor
    And a Child Shall Lead Them

    Here we begin to see some of the social ramifications for an early Christian emperor. Note that in this period in OTL the Christians in Rome gained praise for the fact that they had a policy of protecting and caring for abandoned children.
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    During his times he walked among the poor in Rome, Caligula noticed the large number of babies that were left abandoned on trash piles and elsewhere by families that were too poor to feed them. He later learned that this was not merely a practice among the poor but even many among the nobility would do this if they found a child was not a boy or if they felt indisposed to care for the child. Caligula was much disturbed by this and sought counsel with his friend Clement.

    Clement told Caligula that the Christians in Rome had begun to find and care for these abandoned children but there were so many that they were unable to care for them all. After some days Caligula decided on a plan. He ordered that childless young widows who no longer had means of support should be brought together and that homes were to be set aside for them where they would be able to live and that these widows would be able to care for the young children who were abandoned with the help of the Christians. The idea pleased Clement and soon a number of such homes were set up throughout Rome. Many abandoned children who would have died were thus saved by the kindness of the Emperor. The homes would for many years thereafter be called Houses of Caligula.

    In the meantime Tiberius Gemellus had become more and more interested in the Christian faith. He would often talk with Caligula and with Clement regarding this. After many weeks Tiberius asked if he too could be baptized. Clement was delighted but felt it best to ask Tiberius’ guardian, Caligula first. Caligula too was overjoyed. That night Tiberius was baptized as Caligula had been in the palace baths. And still later Tiberius and Caligula joined the Christians in Rome to share the Eucharistic feast. But Caligula decided to keep the matter of Tiberius becoming a Christian secret from the Senate for he knew there were those there who were already grumbling against him.
     
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    • Tyg

    Those abandoned babies could grow up to be very loyal to the Emperor if raising them was made official policy. They'd have no family or other ties to bind them to anyone else, and so Caligula or other Emperors could trust them in high positions, particularly in places where they'd serve as his eyes and ears. If they were inducted into a shared religion with the Emperor, then so much the better! It wasn't unusual for shared cults to be used to bind group loyalties, after all.
     
    Yuelang

    Yuelang

    Banned
    This seems a good start for a very early Christian wank...

    Add an Emperor that also a martyr and you have the recipe of either benevolent Christianized Roman Empire down the line... or Warhammer 40000 :D
     
    floppy_seal99

    floppy_seal99

    Tyg said:
    Those abandoned babies could grow up to be very loyal to the Emperor if raising them was made official policy. They'd have no family or other ties to bind them to anyone else, and so Caligula or other Emperors could trust them in high positions, particularly in places where they'd serve as his eyes and ears. If they were inducted into a shared religion with the Emperor, then so much the better! It wasn't unusual for shared cults to be used to bind group loyalties, after all.
    Click to expand...

    If this policy is followed, Caligula in effect becomes a testoserone-possessing, Christian, Lord Varys the Eunuch. :cool: That is hilarious, but also politically/militarily sound.
     

    MerryPrankster

    Tyg said:
    Those abandoned babies could grow up to be very loyal to the Emperor if raising them was made official policy. They'd have no family or other ties to bind them to anyone else, and so Caligula or other Emperors could trust them in high positions, particularly in places where they'd serve as his eyes and ears. If they were inducted into a shared religion with the Emperor, then so much the better! It wasn't unusual for shared cults to be used to bind group loyalties, after all.
    Click to expand...

    And TTL's Claudius won't get so much crap for relying too much on freedmen if these abandoned babies are used as the hiring pool for various Imperial jobs.

    Assuming St. Caligula's reign is...abruptly terminated...the Houses of Caligula might remain. Whoever takes power after him might view them as useful for creating loyal followers, if not necessarily Christians.
     

    MerryPrankster

    Speaking of Claudius, where is he? IIRC he's still hanging around pretending to be insane and unthreatening, but if he realizes that Caligula's cruelty and craziness has been neutered, he might get "miraculously healed" of his alleged issues too.

    Alternatively, people who dislike Caligula's devotion to some strange Eastern faith worshiping a crucified criminal might try to use him as a figurehead for some kind of coup.
     

    Tyg

    floppy_seal99 said:
    If this policy is followed, Caligula in effect becomes a testoserone-possessing, Christian, Lord Varys the Eunuch. :cool: That is hilarious, but also politically/militarily sound.
    Click to expand...

    In this case, they wouldn't be spies per se, (not most of them anyway) but rather could fill administrative, finance, religious and military positions in the background. They'd be a good recruitment option for the Praetorian Guard as well. That leaves prestigious and visible leadership positions open to the Roman aristocracy as usual, but ensures that they cannot easily act without the Emperor being informed of their doings.
     

    mrmandias

    I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I just can't accept the plausibility of the Imperial office becoming permanently Christian at this point, especially not without major, major deformations in Christianity. Which don't seem to have happened, based on the fairly standard OTL hagiographic tropes we're seeing in the Vita here. Probably a best case scenario would be something like a successor who preserves a relationship with the Christians and the quasi-Christian institutions, like these foundling homes, but without formally or at least openly being Christian himself.
     
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