On This Day in Ancient History - Romulus Augustulus Crowned
Saturday October 31, 2009
On this Day in A.D. 475, the last western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was crowned in Ravenna. He was about 14 at the time. Romulus Augustulus was ousted a year later by Odoacer and sent to Campania, marking one of the more popular dates for the Fall of Rome.
Odoacer
Odoacer
Comments
Odoacer sent the Imperial Insignia to the Emperor in Constantinople. The Empire was thus reunited, at least in principle if not in fact. The Senate sent a letter to Zeno, the Emperor, stating that, “the majesty of a sole monarch is sufficient to pervade and protect, at the same time, both East and West.” Therefore the Western Empire ceased to exist as an independent entity but it did not “fall”, ie totally cease to exist, until much later when the Popes ceased to recognise the suzreinty of Constantinople