The worst ruler who ever lived in Italy might have only been in power for five years.

Caligula was the ruler between 37 and 41 AD, but he made the most of those years.

Ultimately, he was assassinated via poison after the people he ruled over lost all patience for his sexual deviance and cruelty.

From making senators kiss his feet to murdering a priest in a crowd for no reason, here are a few reasons why Caligula was the worst of the worst.

Before vacationing in Italy, here are some interesting facts to uncover.

He Bankrupted Rome

Driven by his selfish desires, Caligula spent all the money Rome had in their governmental bank. He did that so he would have access to the finest things in life.

Ultimately, many of the things he splurged on were far from essential. Rather than invest the vast wealth of money back into the people, Caligula only thought of himself.

It takes a lot to bankrupt an entire nation that was once powerful and abundant. Through his overly-consuming greed, Caligula figured out a way to do it. 

He Gathered Troops to Invade the Sea

Caligula thought it would be a good idea to wage war against Neptune and the sea. Before sailing out the ocean, he instructed his army to collect as many seashells as they wanted.

This was a clear waste of time and resources. He wanted to do that because he considered seashells the spoils of the conquered sea.

He also made the army rob the people of Gaul on the way up to the ocean. They never ended up invading the sea to go up against Neptune.

Caligula’s army simply gathered seashells, robbed Gaul citizens, and returned home.

What’s the most disturbing detail you just learned about Caligula? Let us know in the comments below!