Little Boots

**"The naming culture of Ancient Rome is a bit complicated, to say the least…"**

Their naming convention varied between boys and girls.

When a baby boy was born, he was given a birth name.

And if he was born into a noble or imperial family, he would also receive additional names aside from his birth name to reflect his family connections.

They add these names to emulate past predecessors.

In the hopes for these younglings to grow, mirroring the same respect and power that their ancestors once had.

This was also true if he was adopted into a new family.

In contrast, girls typically received only one personal name, often a feminine version of a family name or a name that reflected their family's heritage.

Unless they were adopted or married into a new family, girls do not typically receive additional names.

**"Then here comes the Julio-Claudian dynasty."**

The current ruling family, or the imperial family.

Which produced the former emperor that adopted the now-current emperor.

Originated from two families that merged through marriage and alliance—the Julii and Claudii family..

And aside from the Julio-Claudian dynasty, there are also other patrician families that held a significant amount of power and influence.

Albeit not as powerful as the current ruling family.

They are known as gentes—ten patrician/noble families—including the Julii-Claudii family that has now become one.

These noble families shaped Roman politics, society, and culture through their complex web of relationships, alliances, and competitions for power.

**"And in this setup, the future third emperor of Rome, Gaius Germanicus, was born."**

He became Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus later on; the two added names came from his adoption into the Julii-Claudii family through his grandfather.

Making him now also a part of the imperial family. One of the adoptive grandson of the current emperor.

And in the future, another name will be added when he rises from the throne. 

But that story is for another day..

For now, he is Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus.

The third son of Germanicus - the Roman general, who is currently actively doing a revenge campaign in Germania.

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Around November or December 16AD..

Vetera Castrum, a major Roman military camp near Rhine river..

Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus's mother, the beautiful Agrippina, was a determined and devoted person.

She's willing to sacrifice and endure a long and arduous journey to Germania just to reunite with her husband and support him in his military endeavors.

Born as Vipsania Julia Agrippina.

Her father, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, is the former advisor and friend of the former emperor.

A very proud woman and a very proud wife. 

Being the wife of the famous Germanicus Julius Caesar and step-granddaughter of the revered former emperor made her so.

She has an impressive family background.

So, days before her third son's fourth birthday arrived in the month of August, Agrippina, prepares for a long journey with him.

Even though she had just given birth to her youngest daughter at that time, just many months ago—November last year.

She gets up and takes her son with her to Germania to her husband's camp, leaving their domus and her other children to her mother-in-law.

A request from Germanicus himself when she visited the Vetera castrum last time, where she conceived Julia, the youngest.

Once they've arrived at Vetera castrum, it's already autumn.

Three months have already passed...

They spent the entire summer traveling to Germania.

The Vetera castrum, an important military camp that's been around since 12BC.

A fortress that housed two Roman legions and was an important hub for trade, commerce, and cultural exchange.

And for being a military camp, it's too peaceful.

Soldiers and also their families are everywhere, making it look like a small city.

The castrum featured typical Roman architecture, with big defensive walls, gates, barracks, and administrative buildings.

The young Gaius Julius Caesar remembered that it was quite chilly.

Smell of wood smoke, different kinds of food aromas, and sweat are mixing with the autumn air.

And the endless sounds of people chatting and a few soldiers that are doing training.

He is wearing a miniature soldier's outfit devised by his mother to please the troops.

To boost the morale in the castrum and create a sense of camaraderie.

That was Agrippina's and his effect on the whole camp, which is what's much needed in times of war—to lighten up the mood of the people.

His father, Germanicus, the one who oversees the camp, is in a jovial mood and drunkenly boasted that his third son, Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, was just like him at that age.

And then he asked Agrippina to have him sing by the campfire.

Agrippina urged him on while gently laughing at her husband's sweet demand.

The bright young boy, already showing promise beyond his years, stepped forward to stand before the campfire.

He scanned the faces of the soldiers, like he was already old.

Mimicking what his father always did, he took a deep breath and started to sing.

"As long as you're alive....

shine...

dont be sad at all…

life is short…

time asks for its due..."

The voice was like nothing they'd ever heard before—an ethereal, angelic tone that seemed to match the haunting melody of Seikilos Epitaph.

A song that was written for a loved one that has already passed.

A significant song to sing during the times of war against the Germanic tribes.

The soldiers erupted into applause, cheering and whistling.

They then dubbed him "Caligula"—or "little boots"—in admiration of his performance while wearing miniature military boots, just like his father's.

A nickname that stuck, symbolizing the soldiers' drunken affection for the young Caligula and their recognition of his resemblance to his illustrious father, Germanicus.

After a month, Agrippina, his mother, left him in the camp and went home.

As her spouse is already preparing for his raid on the Weser river.

The young Caligula is left alone, save only with one or two soldiers babysitting him.

Excited about being left alone with his father.

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His own little misadventures in the camp only earned him more affection from the soldiers.

And he saw how his father was perceived by the people.

Widely admired for his virtuous character, dashing physique, and exceptional military strategic talent.

The embodiment of Roman ideals.

Caligula is happy and proud. In his young heart, he wanted to grow up just like his father.

His blond hair, which almost looks gold under the sun that he gets through his mother's genes, and his little brown boots can be seen around the whole castrum in the day.

While at night, he is with his father, telling him story after story of his battle. And teaching the young Caligula about the military.

He absorbed it all, eager to please and eager to learn.

In that way, his father is hoping to instill in him discipline, courage, and leadership skills and, at the same time, spend time with his young son.

As the raid got nearer, the time Germanicus spent with him had lessened.

And before his father left the castrum, he told Caligula to practice with a sword. And when he returns, he'll ask his young son to show it to him.

It's been twenty-one days since then.

Caligula has started to get bored; his enthusiasm for the sword has started to wane, but he still dutifully swings the wooden sword every day.

Eager to impress his father upon his return.

Albeit sometimes he is using it to conduct imaginary battles with the camp's chicken.

Early one morning…

*Ta-ta-taaa*

A horn blared, making Caligula jump to his feet after the chickens fled.

"They've returned!"

"Victoria!"

"Germanicus!!"

"Viva Roma!"

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*

Caligula with his little boots sprang into action, 'Father has returned! '. Cold wind assaulted his face as he ran.

In his little head, he can imagine his father's joyful and thunderous laugh, pleased with him when he sees him.

He joined in on the noisy crowd. A mixture of sweat and smoke assaulted Caligula's nose once he got to the entrance of the camp.

It was a very long procession. But the young Caligula, very excited to see his father, waited patiently.

He weaves himself in the crowd; being small is such an advantage!

He then positioned himself in front of the crowd, watching the long line of people coming into the castrum.

But his excitement started to fade when he saw the wounded soldiers—some didn't have legs or eyes!

He knew some of them! The old man who always give him cow milk, the freckled face guy that tumble on the dirt after chasing him, and the man who laughs loudly.

They used to play with him and carry him on their shoulders before they left!

He even got them into trouble with his father once or twice.

Now that they were hurt; it made Caligula feel bad.

He felt like it was his fault all over again.

Like that time when his older brothers always used to blame him or make him as the excuse just to get out of the scolding of his mother.

Whenever they returned home injured, after making some trouble with the other noble kids.

Saying it's his fault that they beat up the young noble kid because they made Caligula cry or said something about him, which is irrational. But kids being kids don't know any better.

They just want to get out of the scolding. And will use anything and any excuses at all to avoid Agrippina's hawk eyes and her itchy whip.

These reasons, even though they are not connected as long as they come back like his brothers, after getting hurt, made Caligula feel like it was his fault in his young mind.

He started to sweat and was scared his father would be mad at him. That he won't praise him with his sword.

Then a group of heavy wooden carts comes in like a mountain.

With a big white cloth covering whatever it is, with mud and the colors of red, redder than a tomato when squashed.

Some people have started to cry, and Caligula doesn't even know why.

'I think they found out it was my fault?', he can feel his eyes are starting to get wet too.

He is only four years old now, even though he is bright, he is still a kid that get scared so easily with the smallest of things, even if it is irrational or nonsense.

Then a big wooden cart passed him by.

Blocking Caligula's view of the procession.

One of the wheels suddenly got stuck in a protruding stone. Halting the cart.

Some soldiers then help the cart to move, as it is hindering the other carts' movement.

With a strong push, the wooden cart shook.

Suddenly, an arm got thrown out on the ground from the cart, scaring Caligula.

It's a severed arm, with blood in it, still gripping a sword.

He wailed, thinking that it was his father's arm.

Suddenly, he felt himself fly off the ground.

He struggled, but the grip was too strong.

He can't see with his eyes, as they're full of tears.

Then he heard a lonely voice that said, "Filius meus iuvenis...".

It was his father.

Then he cried harder.

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INDEX:

Vetera castrum - Vetera camp, a major Roman military camp

Rhine river - one of the major rivers in Europe

Julian-Claudio dynasty - a merged Julii-Claudii clan/family, current imperial family

patricians - nobles

gentes - 10 patrician/noble families (including the Julian-Claudio dynasty)

Caligula - little boots

domus - family residence

castrum - military camp

Seikilos Epitaph - ancient greek song, also known by romans

filius meus iuvenis - my young son

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The gentes (10 families):

1. Julii-Claudii (joint in marriage)

2. Junii-Silanii (joint in marriage)

3. Aemilii

4. Cornelii

5. Valerii

6. Fabii

7. Claudii-Marcelii (joint in marriage) (another branch of Claudii family)

8. Licinii

9. Pompeii

10. Plautii