Roman Emperor Caligula delighted in forcing fathers to witness the torture of their sons. A man once begged off, claiming illness. Caligula sent a stretcher to pick him up. He didn’t want him to miss anything. Caligula had a peculiar sense of humor. Once, while witnessing a religious sacrifice he stepped forward and stabbed the priest. Caligula’s extravagances were ruinous. To pay for them he raised taxes and even turned a wing of the palace into a brothel. The senators had had enough. A flurry of knives brought Caligula’s reign to a timely conclusion in 41 AD. [source]