peashooter85:Julian Nepos, the other last Roman Emperor,Generally speaking history names Romulus Aug
peashooter85:Julian Nepos, the other last Roman Emperor,Generally speaking history names Romulus Augustulus as the last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. However among historians the title of “last Roman Emperor” is not so clear. Not that it really matters, by 457 AD the Roman Emperor was no longer a person who had any real authority, but instead was the puppet of Germanic leaders, notably Ricimer, and later Odoacer. Being Germans who were not Roman citizens, they could not rule directly and maintain any semblance of legitimacy with the Roman people, but instead ruled through a series of puppet emperors who had been approved by the Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople. Generally speaking these puppet emperors were fairly disposable, their reigns lasting no more than a year of two.In the year 474 Julian Nepos was hailed as Emperor under the patricianship of Odoacer. Julian Nepos’ reign saw the utter collapse of Rome as more and more territories broke away from the empire and became independent. By the end of his reign, the Empire consisted of little more than Italy, some parts of Gaul (France), and Dalmatia (now the former Yugoslav republics) In addition, he was very unpopular with the Roman Senate. Disgusted with the collapse of the empire, and the sham emperorships of the Germans, one of his ministers, a half Roman, half German man named Orestes rebelled against Julian Nepos. After being overthrown by Orestes in 475, Nepos fled to Dalamatia, the once province which he still controlled.In the meantime, Orestes set about cementing his own authority with goal of restoring the Western Roman Empire. In 475 he placed his son, Romulus, on the throne, giving him the ancient Imperial title “Augustus”. Of course, Odoacer did not approve of Orestes or the emperorship of Romulus Augustus. The Eastern Roman Emperor also saw Orestes and Romulus as illegal usurpers. Shortly afterwards, Odoacer quickly crushed Orestes and forced Romulus Augustus off the throne in 476. Odoacer declared himself King of Italy, a title which was recognized by the Eastern Roman Emperor, but on the condition that Odoacer serve under Julian Nepos and recognize him as Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Odoacer agreed, paying lip service to the Eastern Roman Emperor by issuing coins in Nepos’ image. However Odoacer refused to invite Nepos back to Italy, instead he maintained his own rule over Rome while Julian Nepos maintained his rule over Dalmatia as Emperor of Rome. Thus Dalamatia became one of three Roman “rump states” (remnant states) along with the Roman Moorish kingdoms (North Africa) and the Dominion of Soissons (France). Julian Nepos continued his rule in Dalmatia until he was murdered by his own soldiers in the year 480. Nepos had planned to invade Italy with the goal of wresting Italy away from Odoacer. However, the people of Dalmatia were not happy about this as they were enjoying a measure of peace and prosperity. Thus they revolted against Nepos, replacing him with one of his generals, a man named Ovida. The overthrow of Nepos gave Odoacer a solid pretext for war, and actingout of a supposed duty to Nepos and the Eastern Roman Emperor invaded Dalamatia, quickly defeating Ovida and his army. Dalmatia was then absorbed into Odoacer’s kingdom. Hence, Julian Nepos was the last man to hold the title “Western Roman Emperor”. After Nepos’ death the Eastern Roman Emperor formally did away with the title of “Western Roman Emperor”, and named himself as the one true Roman Emperor. Thus the Western Roman Empire was officially dissolved. -- source link