Finally, as if he intended to bring the war to an end, he drew up a line of battle on the shore of the Ocean, arranging his ballista’s and other artillery; and when no one knew or could imagine what he was going to do, he suddenly bade them gather shells and fill their helmets and the folds of their gowns, calling them “spoils from the Ocean, due to the Capitol and Palatine.” As a monument of his victory he erected a lofty tower, from which lights were to shine at night to guide the course of ships, as from the Pharos. Then promising the soldiers a gratuity of a hundred denarii each, as if he had shown unprecedented liberality, he said, “Go your way happy; go your way rich.”
Suetonius, The Lives of the Caesars, The Life of Caligula, 46.
That was the least bad wars of Rome, no murder, plillage, slavery, genocide. of course the spoils were also shit so after some more teasing of soldiers Caligula got murdered by them.
Compare to the greatest hero of early Rome, Marcus Furius Camillius, who once forbade pillaging of the conquered city and as reward got deounced and exiled.
Finally, as if he intended to bring the war to an end, he drew up a line of battle on the shore of the Ocean, arranging his ballista’s and other artillery; and when no one knew or could imagine what he was going to do, he suddenly bade them gather shells and fill their helmets and the folds of their gowns, calling them “spoils from the Ocean, due to the Capitol and Palatine.” As a monument of his victory he erected a lofty tower, from which lights were to shine at night to guide the course of ships, as from the Pharos. Then promising the soldiers a gratuity of a hundred denarii each, as if he had shown unprecedented liberality, he said, “Go your way happy; go your way rich.”
Suetonius, The Lives of the Caesars, The Life of Caligula, 46.
That was the least bad wars of Rome, no murder, plillage, slavery, genocide. of course the spoils were also shit so after some more teasing of soldiers Caligula got murdered by them.
Compare to the greatest hero of early Rome, Marcus Furius Camillius, who once forbade pillaging of the conquered city and as reward got deounced and exiled.