Incitatus the treatment of Incitatus by Caligula was an elaborate prank, intended to ridicule and provoke the senate, rather than a sign of insanity, or perhaps a form of satire, with the implication that a horse could perform a senator's duties. Barrett notes that "Many stories were spread about Incitatus, originating most likely from Caligula's own humorous quips." "Possibly out of perverted sense of humor Caligula would pour libations to Incitatus' "salus" [health and well-being], and claimed that he intended to co-opt him as his priest." Ancient sources are clear that the horse was never actually made a consul. Incitatus Incitatus
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II (9 July 1578 – 15 February 1637), a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor (1619–1637), King of Bohemia (1617–1619, 1620–1637), and King of Hungary (1618–1637). He was the son of Archduke Charles II of Inner Austria, and Maria of Bavaria. In 1590, his parents, who were devout Catholics, sent him to study at the Jesuits' college in Ingolstadt, because they wanted to isolate him from the Lutheran nobles. In the same year, he inherited Inner AustriaStyria, Carinthia, Carniola and smaller provincesfrom his father. Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor, who