Extreme tyranny or despotic rule, named after the Roman Emperor Caligula who was known for his brutal and erratic behavior.
From Caligula, the 1st-century Roman emperor whose reign was marked by madness and cruelty. The suffix '-ism' converts his name into a concept describing tyrannical governance. His actual name was Gaius, and 'Caligula' was a childhood nickname meaning 'little boot.'
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