Caligula's Horse album "Moments from Ephemeral City" (2011) and follow up EP "Colossus" (2011) were released independently before signing with Welkin Records and releasing their second album "The Tide, the Thief & River's End" (2013). The band then signed with Inside Out Music for the release of their 2015 album "Bloom". The band released their fourth album In Contact on 15 September 2017. In early 2011 Caligula's Horse was formed by Sam Vallen and Jim Grey. The band is named after the prized possession, Incitatus, of Roman Emperor Caligula by Grey, who is studying ancient history and classical languages at university. Initially
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor from the donkey. To add to this debasement, they were made to announce, ""Ecco la fica"" (meaning "behold the fig"), with the feces still in their mouths. It used to be said that the insulting gesture, (called fico), of holding one's fist with the thumb in between the middle and forefinger came by its origin from this event. Frederick's first marriage, to Adelheid of Vohburg, did not produce any children and was annulled. From his second marriage, to Beatrice of Burgundy, he had the following children: Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (, ; 1122 – 10 June 1190),