Odoacer biography template

Ruler of Italy (c. 433 – 493)

Odoacer^[a] (OH-doh-AY-sər;^[b]c. 433 – 15 March 493 AD), also spelled Odovacer or Odovacar,^[c] was a barbarian soldier and statesman from the Middle Danube who deposed the Western Roman child emperor Romulus Augustulus and became the ruler of Italy (476–493).

Odoacer's overthrow of Romulus Augustulus is traditionally understood as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire.^[d]

Although he held power over Italy, he also represented himself as the client of the Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople, Zeno.

He was referred to not only as a king (Latin: rex), but also as duke (Latin: dux), or using the Roman honorific patrician, granted by Zeno. Odoacer himself used the title of king in the only surviving official document that emanated from his chancery, and it was also used by the consul Basilius.^[e] He had the support of the Roman Senate and was able to distribute land to h