The mad EMPEROR CALIGULA was assassinated in 41 A.D. by a Prefect in his Praetorian Guard, CASSIUS CHAEREA (a decorated survivor of the Massacre of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D. when three Roman Legions were all but wiped out by an alliance of the German tribes led by ARMINIUS). Chaerea was joined by several members of the Guard as well as another Prefect, CORNELIUS SABINUS, and also by a number of Senators (one of these, LUCIUS ANNIUS VINICIANUS, was put forward after as a possible successor to Caligula, and would later lead a rebellion against the EMPEROR CLAUDIUS, Caligula's uncle, who was made Emperor by other members of the Praetorian Guard who were not part of the plot). Claudius, knowing full well what sort of monster Caligula had been, was surprisingly merciful towards the conspirators, ordering the execution of only one of them: Chaerea, who had taken it upon himself to also murder Caligula's innocent wife, CAESAONIA, as well as their infant daughter. The rest were pardoned, with the understanding that they would be watched in the future...