Chapter 30 Summary

The chapter is undated but may be inferred to occur between 38 AD and 41 AD. Antonia, Caligula's grandmother, commits suicide in protest of Caligula's bloodthirsty executions of relations. Claudius oversees his mother's funeral without emotion. Meanwhile, Caligula tires of Macro's growing influence and causes him to be executed and replaced by Cassius Chzhrea, the aged veteran, as his captain of the guard. The appointment is meant insultingly, as Cassius is forced to execute a veritable avalanche of grossly unfair and demeaning punishments.

Caligula becomes increasingly outrageous, despicable, and erratic. A large section of the chapter details some of Caligula's disgusting behaviors. In one notable passage, he assembles a vast fleet of ships and arranges them so as to be able to ride his horse across the bay of Baizh. His apparent insanity leads to a rapid loss in popularity, and massive executions convince most...