Julia Drusilla

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Roman imperial dynasties
Julio-Claudian dynasty

Augustus Children    Natural - Julia the Elder    Adoptive - Gaius Caesar, Lucius Caesar, Agrippa Postumus, Tiberius Tiberius Children    Natural - Julius Caesar Drusus    Adoptive - Germanicus Caligula Children    Natural - Julia Drusilla    Adoptive - Tiberius Gemellus Claudius Children    Natural - Claudia Antonia, Claudia Octavia, Britannicus    Adoptive - Nero Nero Children    Natural - Claudia Augusta

For the identically named daughter of Germanicus, see Drusilla (sister of Caligula).

Julia Drusilla (Classical Latin: IVLIA•DRVSILLA^[1]) (39-41) was the only child and daughter of Roman Emperor Gaius (Caligula) and his fourth and last wife Caesonia.

Named after her late aunt and her father's favorite sister, Drusilla, Julia was born not long after Caligula married Caesonia (some sources have her being born on the same day as the marriage). Caesonia already had 3 daughters from her first marriage. When Drusilla was born, Caligula took her to a temple that housed statues of goddesses and placed her on the lap of Minerva, instructing the goddess to nurse and train his new daughter. Soon after her birth, Caligula set up donation boxes around Rome marked "Julia's Drink" or "Julia's Food". According to the ancient historian Suetonius, Caligula believed that Minerva would supervise his daughter's growth and education.

Suetonius further claims that when playing with other children, she would attack them and try to claw out their eyes. This violence caused Caligula to state proudly that there was no disputing the girl's paternity. She was definitely his child.

Julia Drusilla's birth gave Caligula an additional excuse to bear heavier taxes on the empire for the burden of parenthood. Suetonius quotes him to have complained, 'In addition to the burden of sovereignty, I must now shoulder that of fatherhood.' He promptly took up a collection for her education and dowry. He also announced that New Year presents would be welcome on the first of January, and then sat on the palace porch and grabbed the handfuls and cupfuls of coins which a mixed crowd of all classes pressed on him. At last he had developed a passion for the feel of money and, spilling heaps of gold pieces on an open space, would walk over them barefoot, or else lie down and wallow.

On January 24, 41 Caligula was assassinated by a conspiracy involving the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea. Caesonia and Drusilla survived Caligula by only a few hours. The 2-year-old Drusilla had her head smashed against a wall after attacking her mother's assassin by kicking and biting him.

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