Sky History’s Killer Kings steps into the annals of Roman history this Monday, June 23, 2025, at 9:00 PM GMT, with an episode titled Caligula. This series aims to re-evaluate history’s most formidable rulers, and few figures invite more re-evaluation than Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as Caligula. Was he truly the mad tyrant history painted, or is there more to the story?
The documentary explores Caligula’s early reign, which began with surprising popularity. He implemented policies that resonated with the public, including tax reductions and granting pardons to exiles, earning him initial widespread support. However, the episode then charts his supposed descent into tyrannical behavior, an account that has shaped our understanding of his rule for centuries.
But Killer Kings isn’t content to simply retread old ground. The series brings a mix of historical analysis and true-crime sensibility, aiming to introduce conflicting evidence and mitigating factors that might lead to a different verdict on these enigmatic men. The probe carefully presents the case against him while seeking to provide a more nuanced picture of the events that led to his assassination.
