Murder
On January 24, 41, Julia Drusilla and her parents were at the imperial palace complex on Palatine Hill in Rome. A conspiracy to assassinate Caligula and replace him with his uncle, Claudius, had been in discussion for some time and that day had been decided for the event. While Caligula was addressing an acting troupe of young men during a series of games and dramatics held for the Divine Augustus, the Praetorian Guard, led by Cassius Chaerea, stormed the imperial complex.
The cryptoporticus (underground corridor) where this event would have taken place was discovered beneath the imperial palaces on the Palatine Hill. By the time Caligula's loyal Germanic guard responded, the emperor was already dead. A few hours later, Empress Caesonia was fatally stabbed by Lupus, a tribune especially sent by Chaerea to murder the two remaining family members. Seeing this, one-year-old Drusilla jumped upon her mother's assassin and bit and kicked him. As a result, she was murdered by "having her brains knocked out against a wall."
Read more about this topic: Julia Drusilla (daughter Of Caligula)
Famous quotes containing the word murder:
“It is a crime to put a Roman citizen in chains, it is an enormity to flog one, sheer murder to slay one: what, then, shall I say of crucifixion? It is impossible to find the word for such an abomination.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)
“You can’t murder a man who’s been dead for five centuries.”
—Garrett Fort (1900–1945)
“Suddenly, she wasn’t drunk anymore. Her hand was steady and she was cool. Like somebody making funeral arrangements for a murder not yet committed.”
—John Paxton (1911–1985)