MyMemeCards editorial team
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Even Caligula was defeated” is a common card of the French Politics pack, number 24 of the collection, and the 90th best-known meme of its 127 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Even Caligula was defeated” meme mean?
The expression highlights that even the most powerful or arrogant leaders eventually fall. By invoking Caligula, defeated after looking in a mirror, the politician suggests Emmanuel Macron, intoxicated by power, will suffer the same fate. It is a political metaphor about the inevitable downfall of arrogance.
Where does the “Even Caligula was defeated” meme come from?
The phrase comes from Mathilde Panot, president of the La France Insoumise group, speaking at the National Assembly on Monday, March 20, 2023. During the debate preceding the vote on censure motions against the Élisabeth Borne government, she compared Emmanuel Macron to Caligula, a Roman emperor who became drunk with power. The official record states: "Even Emperor Caligula was defeated - it was after looking at himself in the mirror." The context involves sharp criticism of presidential excess. The cross-party censure motion received 278 votes, short of the 287 needed, and was rejected. Sources do not specify the exact platform or video source from the hemicycle.
- March 20, 2023Mathilde Panot delivers the quote at the National Assembly during the debate on censure motions.
How to use the “Even Caligula was defeated” meme
- Use the quote to mock the imminent downfall of an arrogant political leader.
- Cite the Caligula example to show that no one is immune to political defeat.
- Use the mirror reference to highlight a leader's blindness to their own image.
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The “Even Caligula was defeated” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 024 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Common |
| Collection | French Politics pack |
| Fame | 66/100 · #90 of 127 |
| Recycle value | 5 MemeCoins (15 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Even Caligula was defeated” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Even Caligula was defeated comes out of the French Politics pack as a common card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 5 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art 0.8%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
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Frequently asked questions
Who said even Caligula was defeated?
It was Mathilde Panot, president of the La France Insoumise group, who delivered this line during a parliamentary debate in March 2023.
What does the Caligula quote mean?
It means that even the most powerful leaders like Caligula eventually fall, serving as a metaphor for the predicted downfall of Emmanuel Macron.
When did the mentioned censure motion take place?
The debate leading to this quote occurred on March 20, 2023, at the National Assembly, before the rejection of the censure motion against the Borne government.
How do I get the Even Caligula was defeated meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Even Caligula was defeated” is a common card of the French Politics pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Even Caligula was defeated card?
It is a Common card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Réforme des retraites 2023 : revivez la journée de vote des motions ... · Mathilde Panot - Wikiquote, le recueil de citations libres · Séances du lundi 20 mars 2023 · checked on October 8, 2026.
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