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Introduction. Long considered the archetype of the bloodthirsty tyrant, Caligula has been the subject of numerous psychological and psychiatric studies, giving rise to countless diagnoses. The work of contemporary historians modifies early critical assessments and paves the way for a new analysis. Objectives and methods. To revisit Caligula's psychopathology in light of recent historical interpretation. Findings. His wielding of power was initially moderate and fair, but quickly became tainted by extravagance and despotism, forging a reign of terror. Chronologically, the turning point seems to correspond to the death of his sister, Drusilla, and the dismissal of Naevius Sutorius Macro. The Emperor's early history was also marked by significant traumatic events. Conclusions. Not only was Caligula ill-prepared to take power and a victim of the aristocratic ideology of his time, but he also fell prey to a more personal and narcissistic quest for identity, profoundly marked by his early history.