16 March AD 37
Tiberius dies, Caligula emperor

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As Tiberius lies dying in his seaside villa at Misenum, his heir-apparent Caligula removes the emperor's ring from his finger, presents it – and himself – to the crowd gathered outside and is hailed as the new emperor. However, according to Tacitus, Tiberius recovers and calls out for food. Caligula is panic-stricken, but the commander of the Praetorian Guard, Macro, takes charge of the situation and smothers Tiberius with a pillow. The old and unpopular emperor makes way for the new and (initially at any rate) popular Caligula.

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