Caesar madness is a form of megalomania that was common among monarchs and tyrants. Figures such as Hitler, Emperor Caligula, and King Henry VIII are now associated with the delusional symptom. Many sources doubt Caesar mania as a disease symptomatology and consider the individual symptoms a natural consequence of the overdrawn image of rulers in prehistoric times.
What is Caesar madness?
Megalomania is also known as megalomania. This is a delusional content that can characterize different disorders of the psyche. Delusions of grandeur are closely related to delusions of descent. Sufferers often think of themselves, for example, as important personalities from the political or religious sphere, as gods, prophets or superheroes. The delusion of grandeur is often associated with a delusion of mission or salvation. Patients are convinced they are fulfilling a higher mission for humanity and redeeming it. In this context, a form of megalomania is known as Caesar mania, which is said to have been especially common among political leaders such as Roman emperors. The term ultimately denotes fewer specific symptoms, but is essentially used to describe monarchs unsuited to rule. Caesar madness often manifests itself in paranoid delusions of grandeur and mission or salvation. The term goes back to Gustav Freytag and his novel “The Lost Manuscript”, where it refers to the Julio-Claudian imperial house. The term Caesar mania became widespread with Caligula. Studies on the Caesar madness of Emperor Caligula documented in the 19th century, especially the Nobel Peace Prize winner Ludwig Quidde.
Causes
Caesar madness occurs exclusively in people with great political power. Monarchs in particular are at risk of developing the disorder. In addition to Emperor Caligula and William II, individuals such as England’s King Henry VIII probably also suffered from Caesar madness. In the past, monarchs were often given such extensive powers at a young age that they tended to believe in the unlimitedness of their own power. They often no longer felt bound by the law and modified it to their liking, such as Henry VIII, who rose against papal power for the purpose of a divorce. Quidde notes the flattery of the immediate environment and the specially organized propaganda about his own person as important causes of the monarchs’ superhuman sense of power. From many sources the Caesar madness is considered less as a clinical picture, but as a natural consequence of the tyrant’s topicality. In this context, the monarchs’ apparent symptoms would not be due to a mental disorder, but to the concept of monarchy itself. In order to convince people and maintain order, monarchs were expected to have a certain way of arguing and presenting themselves that could explain the individual symptoms of Caesar mania at least as well as a disease. In fact, since approximately all monarchs exhibited symptoms of Caesar mania, this relationship is the more likely explanation.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
In the 19th century, Nobel Peace Prize winner Ludwig Quidde described the essential elements of Caesar madness using the example of Emperor Caligula. He imputed to the emperor a belief in his own divinity associated with extravagance. In addition to a theatrical appearance, he described the hunger for military victories as symptomatic. A tendency toward paranoia completed his picture. Moreover, Quidde referred to the connection that sole rulers are often overcome by the impression of unlimited power. To this impression he attributed the renunciation of law and order that was widespread among autocrats. Typically, monarchs begin to believe in their own superhumanity, invincibility, or divinity through the blandishments of those around them. Caesar madness is always associated with a certain sense of mission and claim to salvation. There are some special forms of megalomania, such as the religious mania with a salvation mission, the delusional elevation of one’s own person, the world improvement or world renewal mania and the omnipotence mania. All of these meet in the Caesar delusion. In addition, paranoia makes the affected person believe in a malicious environment. For example, the affected person has the feeling that his or her life is being threatened.
Diagnosis
Caesarean madness has since lost its significance and is not diagnosed as a disease in its own right under any circumstances in modern times. However, forms of megalomania, such as megalomania with a salvation mission, and persecution mania are still considered actual clinical pictures and are diagnosed by psychologists and psychiatrists according to ICD-10. In most cases, these are merely symptoms of a superordinate clinical picture, such as narcissistic personality disorder or schizophrenia. In addition, brain damage may play a role. Diagnostic collaboration with a neurologist is therefore indicated.
When should you see a doctor?
Many behaviors can be described as delusions of grandeur, which were allegedly already known in ancient Rome. However, whether this behavior pattern has disease value and makes a visit to the doctor necessary must be weighed. One possible evaluation criterion for or against medical intervention could be that the person concerned is harming himself or others by doing so. The megalomania of a ruler must be distinguished from the clinical picture of megalomania. Those who hold a lot of power often tend to have delusions of grandeur. This has been shown by many dictators throughout history. However, when a completely normal person tends toward megalomania, he suffers a loss of reality. He becomes delusional about his importance, his origin and his power and develops paranoia. This requires treatment in many cases. Caesar mania is rarely given this designation in normal people. The designation “Caesar mania” was given exclusively to rulers who could demonstrate a corresponding abundance of power. The corresponding mental disorder is usually called megalomania. While Caesar mania is a possible consequence of immense power, megalomania is a disease requiring treatment. Accompanying circumstances such as delusions of persecution, however, can also give Caesar mania a disease aspect that requires treatment.
Treatment and therapy
Whether or not Caesarean mania is actually a disease remains unresolved to the present time. Since Caesar madness is not diagnosed in modern times anyway and generally refers explicitly to autocrats in politically monarchical positions of power, therapeutic approaches have little relevance against the background in the meantime. For the individual delusional contents of the Caesar delusion, however, treatment options do exist, for example for paranoia or the delusion of grandeur with a salvation mission. In the case of such delusions, the therapy depends on the primary cause of the delusion. Medications such as antipsychotics are available as symptomatic drug treatment options. Likewise, psychotherapeutic steps of different schools are available for therapy, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy. On the monarchs of the past, Caesar mania was generally not treated. Only some preventive measures were initiated, according to Quidde.
Prospect and prognosis
So then the Caesar madness in the present time would still be diagnosed, it would have an unfavorable prognosis. However, since there is no longer any way to diagnose Caesarean madness in a patient according to the guidelines of recognized diseases, this is unlikely. In the present time, physicians and psychotherapists would diagnose other diseases and disorders that are a hybrid of Caesar madness, but would have a comparable prognosis outlook. The phenomenon is characterized by the fact that there is no disease insight of the patient. For this reason, only in very rare cases does a medical or therapeutic treatment occur at all. However, this would be the prerequisite to experience a cure or alleviation of the patient’s health condition. Those affected do not have the feeling that something could be wrong with them. The opposite is the case. They themselves are convinced that their thinking, feeling and acting is appropriate. The close environment also has no room for maneuver in direct contact with these people. The sick person builds his social life entirely according to his preferences. Those who fall out of favor are eliminated. There is no tolerance for these people. Therefore, it is almost impossible to work with the ill person and thus achieve a cure.
Prevention
In the past, Caesar’s Madness was prevented by slaves on the chariot of a victorious monarch to remind the triumphant of his own humanity. Since the disease is no longer a major issue today, there is no need for corresponding preventive measures.
Aftercare
In the case of Caesarean madness, the patient usually has only wehr few measures of an aftercare available. Since this disease hardly occurs in modern times, no general predictions about the further course can be made in the process. In general, the activities that led to Caesarean madness should be avoided. However, since this disease no longer occurs today, there are usually no special measures or possibilities of aftercare available to the affected person. In the past, Caesar madness was treated by taking medication. The affected person had to pay attention to a correct intake and also to the appropriate dosage. In general, sufferers of mental illness should always turn to family or friends for a discussion. This can prevent further deterioration of the symptoms. In serious cases, however, a mental illness must always be treated by a professional doctor, and treatment in a closed clinic is also possible. It is not possible to generally predict whether these illnesses will result in a reduced life expectancy for the patient. Also the further course depends thereby strongly on the kind and the characteristic of the respective illness.
What you can do yourself
Caesarean madness is not diagnosed as a separate disease nowadays. The delusional symptoms associated with the rare form of megalomania can sometimes be treated by using your own strategies and tips. Nevertheless, anyone who suspects delusions of grandeur or another personality disorder in themselves or others should first consult a physician. After the causative disorder has been diagnosed, the healing process can be supported by self-help measures. The neurologist or therapist in charge will initially provide the affected person with strategies to break through the disturbed thought and behavior patterns. In mild cases, it is often sufficient to change the environment or the job. A change in lifestyle, including exercise and a healthy diet, can also counteract psychosomatic causes. As a rule, the sufferer is also referred to self-help groups or to a specialist therapist. In addition, medications such as antipsychotics are prescribed. It is essential that these are taken according to the doctor’s instructions in order to achieve symptom relief. If there is an increase in megalomania, it is important to speak with the appropriate medical professional immediately.
