Who Ruled Rome in 476 AD?

By Michael Ferguson

In 476 AD, the mighty Roman Empire faced a significant turning point in its history. This was the year when the last Western Roman Emperor was deposed, marking the end of ancient Rome’s imperial rule. So, who ruled Rome in 476 AD?

The Last Western Roman Emperor

The last Western Roman Emperor to rule over Rome was Romulus Augustus. He ascended to the throne at a young age of around 16 or 17 years old in 31 October 475 AD. Romulus Augustus belonged to a family with a prestigious background as his father Orestes served as a high-ranking military officer.

The Deposition

Unfortunately for Romulus Augustus, his reign would be short-lived and plagued with internal conflicts and external threats. In September 476 AD, Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain who led the barbarian mercenaries in service of the Western Roman Empire, staged a successful coup against Romulus Augustus.

Odoacer’s bold move effectively put an end to the Western Roman Empire and marked the beginning of new ruling powers in Rome.

The Kingdom of Italy

Following his deposition of Romulus Augustus, Odoacer established himself as the King of Italy. Although he claimed to be ruling on behalf of Julius Nepos, who was recognized as the legitimate Western Roman Emperor by Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno (who ruled from Constantinople), it was clear that Odoacer held real power.

Odoacer’s reign marked the beginning of what is known as Theodoric’s Ostrogothic Kingdom (493-553 AD) in Italy.

Theodoric: The Ostrogothic King

In 493 AD, Theodoric, the King of the Ostrogoths, conquered Italy and established his own rule. Theodoric’s reign brought a period of relative stability and peace to Italy, although he continued to maintain a close relationship with the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire

With Odoacer’s deposition of Romulus Augustus in 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire officially came to an end. This event is often seen as a symbolic turning point marking the transition from ancient Rome to the Middle Ages in Europe.

  • The fall of the Western Roman Empire had far-reaching consequences for European history.
  • Various barbarian kingdoms emerged in its wake, including the Ostrogothic Kingdom, Visigothic Kingdom, Lombard Kingdom, and others.
  • This period also witnessed significant political and social changes as Europe entered into a new era.

In Conclusion

In 476 AD, Romulus Augustus was deposed by Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain who established himself as King of Italy. This marked the end of the Western Roman Empire and led to subsequent barbarian kingdoms ruling over different parts of Europe. The fall of Rome in 476 AD heralded a new era in European history – one that would shape its future for centuries to come.

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