He is widely known by the dispar… He was the son of Orestes, a Roman who once served as a secretary in the court of Attila the Hun before coming into the service of Julius Nepos in AD 475. Romulus's deposition by Odoacer traditionally marks the end of the Roman Empire in the West, the end of Ancient Rome, and the beginning of the Middle Ages in Western Europe. After the murder of Valentinian III (455) the Theodosian dynasty was extinct in Western Europe and the Suevian Ricimer, a grandson of Wallia, a king of the West Goths, governed the Western Empire for sixteen years as its real ruler. Imperial authority had retreated to the Italian borders and parts of southern Gaul: Italia and Gallia Narbonensis, respectively. On account of the boy's youth (he was only thirteen years old) he was called Augustulus, the little emperor. Flavius Romulus Augustus (c. AD 460 – after AD 476; possibly still alive as late as AD 507), known derisively and historiographically as Romulus Augustulus, was the Roman emperor who ruled the Western Roman Empire from 31 October 475 until 4 September 476. The historical record contains few details of Romulus's life. Romulus Augustus (formentlig født omkring 461 e.Kr., død efter år 511 e.Kr.) His own overthrow by Odoacer (q.v.) But Cassiodorus does not supply any details about his correspondent or the size and nature of his pension, and Jordanes, whose history of the period abridges an earlier work by Cassiodorus, makes no mention of a pension. var den sidste af det Vestromerske Riges kejsere.. Han blev født under navnet Flavius Romulus som søn af den romerske politiker, militærleder og diplomat Flavius Orestes (død 476).. Flavius Romulus blev proklameret som kejser under kejsernavnet Romulus Augustus den 31. oktober 475 e.Kr. 1), & the Anonymous Valesani Pars posterior (8.37) -- so it would be accurate to refer to him as "Augustulus" Romulus Augustus' power base was actually at Ravenna (Anon. [13] Instead, he installed his son on the throne on 31 October 475. The western empire had shrunk significantly over the previous century, reduced to merely comprising of Italy, southern Gaul, the Alps and Dalmatia. The future emperor was named Romulus after his maternal grandfather, a nobleman in Noricum. Older literature (appr. Try Prime EN Hello, Sign in Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Returns & Orders Try Prime Cart. [23], Following Odoacer's coup, the Roman Senate sent a letter to Zeno that stated that "the majesty of a sole monarch is sufficient to pervade and protect, at the same time, both the East and the West". [19], The ultimate fate of Romulus is a mystery. -- so he wasn't the figurehead … He came to power after the overthrow of Julius Nepos (q.v.). [Source] Romulus Augustus (Latin: Romulus Augustus ; born c. AD 461 – died after AD 476, and was apparently still alive as late as 507) was an emperor (alleged usurper) reigning over the Western Roman Empire from 31 October AD 475 until 4 September AD 476. [25] The 2007 film The Last Legion, and the novel on which it is based, includes a heavily fictionalized account of the reign and subsequent life of Romulus Augustus; escaping captivity with the aid of a small band of loyal Romans, he reaches Britain, where he eventually becomes Uther Pendragon. Romulus oli tuolloin 14-vuotias, ja Orestes käytti poikaansa nukkehallitsijana. Romulus Augustulus tai Romulus Augustus (noin 460 – 507 tai myöhemmin) oli Länsi-Rooman viimeinen keisari.Hänen isänsä, hunni Attilan entinen sihteeri Orestes kohotti hänet valtaan 31. lokakuuta 475, kun oli ensin ajanut edellisen keisarin Julius Nepoksen Italiasta. Died: Unknown – Romulus possibly died sometime in the early sixth century. … He is often described as the last Western Roman emperor, though some historians consider this to be Julius Nepos. [6], As a proxy for his father, Romulus made no decisions and left no monuments, although coins bearing his name were minted in Rome, Milan, Ravenna, and Gaul. [12] Orestes, however, refused to become emperor, "from some secret motive", said historian Edward Gibbon. With the capital of Ravenna under his control, Orestes appointed his son Romulus to the throne despite the lack of support from the eastern court in Constantinople. Romulus was the son of the Western empire’s master of soldiers Orestes. In the same year he was promoted to the rank of magister militum, but then led a military revolt that forced Nepos to flee into exile. Zeno pointed out that the Senate should rightfully have first requested that Julius Nepos take the throne once more, but he nonetheless agreed to their requests as a fait accompli. His father, the general Orestes , deposed Julius Nepos and proclaimed Romulus Augustulus emperor. In fact, he was a usurper and puppet not recognized as a legitimate ruler by the Eastern emperor. Romulus, however, was little more than a child and figurehead for his father's rule. Romulus Augustulus rŏm´yo͞oləs ôgŭs´tyo͝oləs , d. after 476, last Roman emperor of the West (475–76). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. For the comics character, see. Deposed in the year 476, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Das Oströmische (oder Byzantinische) Reich hingegen überdauerte die Kris… Magister militum Orestes ale vzápětí povstal a přinutil Nepota opustit Itálii.Svého nedospělého syna poté dal provolat císařem. Odoacer, already the de facto ruler of Italy, now ostensibly ruled de jure in Zeno's name. [14], The empire Augustus ruled was a shadow of its former self and had shrunk significantly over the previous 80 years. "[21] The villa was converted into a monastery before 500 to hold the saint's remains.[20]. This article was most recently revised and updated by Charly Rimsa, Research Editor. The future emperor was named Romulus after his maternal grandfather. [citation needed], Odoacer advanced on Ravenna, capturing the city and the young emperor after the short and decisive Battle of Ravenna. Romulus Augustus or Augustulus is acknowledged by many historians to be the last Roman emperor. in 476 long provided the traditional date for the end of the Roman Empire. Skip to main content. In reality, the… Kaiser sterben nicht im Bett : die etwas andere Geschichte der römischen Kaiserzeit ; von Caesar bis Romulus Augustulus (44 v. Chr. Romulus Augustus was the son of Orestes who once had been an assistant to Attila the Hun, and who had at times been sent on diplomatic visits to Constantinople. Therefore, he was given the Nickname “Augustulus“ or “the Little Emperor”. Flavius Romulus Augustus (460s/470s – after 511), often called Romulus Augustulus, was the last of the Western Roman Emperors.. Updates? Romulus was the son of the Western empire’s master of soldiers Orestes. Romulus’ father was originally from Pannonia and served as a secretary and diplomat for Attila the Hun. Books. From the Catholic Encyclopedia. [24] While Zeno told the Senate that Nepos was their lawful sovereign, he did not press the point and accepted the imperial insignia brought to him by the Senate. As part of Ancient Rome Week on the History Extra website, we explore the life of the last Roman emperor…. Romulus Augustulus, in full Flavius Momyllus Romulus Augustulus, (flourished 5th century ad ), known to history as the last of the Western Roman emperors (475–476). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [15] The Eastern Roman Empire treated its western counterpart as a client state. Flavius Romulus Augustus (c. 460 – after 476, possibly still alive as late as 507), known derisively and historiographically as Romulus Augustulus, was Roman emperor of the West from 31 October 475 until 4 September 476. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. [5] The Latin suffix -ulus is a diminutive, hence Augustulus effectively means "Little Augustus". A comment by Cassiodorus may suggest that he survived until the rule of Theoderic (ad 493–526). 476 endete daher das weströmische Kaisertum (ob in diesem Jahr auch Westrom endete, ist, wie gesagt, umstritten). Orestes became Magister militum because of the decision of Julius Nepos in 475. [17], After the abdication of Romulus, the Roman Senate, on behalf of Odoacer, sent representatives to the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno, whom it asked to formally reunite the two halves of the Empire, with Odoacer as the "protector of the state": "The West, they declared, no longer required an Emperor of its own: one monarch sufficed for the world..."[18] Zeno was asked to make Odoacer a patrician, and administrator of Italy in Zeno's name. Flavius Romulus Augustus (c. AD 460 – after AD 476; possibly still alive as late as AD 507), known derisively and historiographically as Romulus Augustulus, was the Roman emperor who ruled the Western Roman Empire from 31 October 475 until 4 September 476. Romulus Augustus, známý rovněž jako Romulus Augustulus, byl poslední západořímský císař, vládnoucí od 31. října 475 do 4. září 476.Romulův předchůdce Julius Nepos jmenoval jeho otce Oresta do čela vojska. - 476 n. Chr.). He ƿæs ymbe þæm geare 461 geboren and his dēaþ is ungecenned ac it ƿæs æfter 476, and man secgð þe he giet alibbedede in 507 be bēc of þæm geare.) Get this from a library! Nepos fled to Dalmatia, where his uncle had ruled a semi-autonomous state in the 460s. The fate of this final Western Roman emperor is somewhat uncertain, but it is believed that he retired to the Lucullan Villa in Campania [13] and died before 488, when the body of the saint Severinus was brought there. Romulus Augustus is called "Augustulus" by several near-contemporary authors: Jordanes (Gothica 242), Candidus (frag. Romulus Augustulus. After Attila’s death, Orestes joined the service of the western empire and quickly achieved senior position. Corrections? Omissions? The Anonymus Valesianus wrote that Odoacer, "taking pity on his youth" (he was about 16), spared Romulus's life and granted him an annual pension of 6,000 solidi before sending him to live with relatives in Campania. Join Facebook to connect with Romulus Augustulus and others you may know. Romulus' father Orestes was a Roman citizen, originally from Pannonia, who had served as a secretary to Attila the Hun and later rose through the ranks of the Roman army. Orestes ruled for a year in his son's name. ), who reigned from 475 476. Romulus's deposition by Odoacer traditionally marks the end of the Roman Empire in the West, the end of Ancient Rome, and the beginning of the Middle Ages in Western Europe. Romulus's father Orestes was a Roman citizen, originally from Pannonia, who had served as a secretary and diplomat for Attila the Hun and later rose through the ranks of the Roman army. [16] Italy would suffer far greater devastation in the next century when Emperor Justinian I reconquered it in the Gothic War. Cassiodorus, then a secretary to Theodoric the Great, wrote a letter in 507 to a "Romulus" confirming a pension. [9] The future emperor was named Romulus after his maternal grandfather, a nobleman from Poetovio in Noricum. [22] The letter would match the description of Odoacer's coup in the Anonymus Valesianus, and Romulus could have been alive in the early sixth century. View the profiles of people named Romulus Augustulus. For about 12 months Orestes ruled Italy in his son’s name, but eventually his troops mutinied and found a leader in the German warrior Odoacer. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Romulus-Augustulus, roman-emperors.org - Biography of Romulus Augustulus. Orestes was appointed "master of soldiers" by Western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos in 475.On August 28, 475, a coup d'état led by Orestes … Several months after Ores… Although he, as all other emperors, adopted the name Augustus upon his accession, he is better remembered by his derisive nickname Augustulus. [6][20], The sources do agree that Romulus took up residence in the Castel dell'Ovo (Lucullan Villa) in Naples, now a castle but originally built as a grand sea-side house by Lucullus in the 1st century BC,[20] fortified by Valentinian III in the mid-5th century. In fact, he was a usurper and puppet not recognized as a legitimate ruler by the Eastern emperor. Val. The hapless ex-emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was still present in Ravenna, and Odoacer rid himself of the boy by exiling him. Odoacer deposed Romulus and sent him, with a … [Fik Meijer] Romulus was compelled to abdicate the throne on 4 September 476. His subsequent fate is unknown. Last western emperor (q.v. He is often described as the 'last Western Roman emperor', though some historians consider this to be Julius Nepos. 8.37-38), which is where he, his father Orestes, & Orestes' brother Paulus were captured. The much more stable Eastern Roman Empiretreated its western counterpart as a client state, with its emperors previously appointing the Western Emperors for the last few years, and thus did not recognize the overthrow of Julius Nepos, who still ruled in Dalmatia. After seizing control of Ravenna, Odoacer sent the former emperor to live in the Castellum Lucullanum in Campania, after which he disappears from the historical record. As a proxy for his father, Romulus made no decisions and had no true power. His reign was purely nominal. From Romulus to Romulus Augustulus: Williams, Rose: 9780865166912: Books - Amazon.ca. Shortly after his appointment, Orestes launched a rebellion and captured Ravenna, the capital of the Western Roman Empire since 402, on 28 August 475. Odoacer’s forces captured and executed Orestes on August 28, 476. [6] The name Romulus was also changed derisively to Momyllus meaning "little disgrace".[7][8]. Romulus Augustus was a 16-year-old minor at the time. Romulus Augustus (khoảng năm 461/463 - sau năm 476, trước năm 488) là vị Hoàng đế cuối cùng của Đế chế Tây La Mã, trị vì từ ngày 31 tháng 10 năm 475 đến ngày 4 tháng 9 năm 476.Việc ông bị phế truất bởi Odoacer, một thủ lĩnh bộ tộc German, đã đánh dấu sự … The last Western Roman Emperor was proclaimed ruler on October 31, 475 when he was very young. Nepos maintained a claim to the position until he was murdered in 480. [10] This is not as coincidental as it may seem; all emperors bore the name Augustus as it was part of the imperial title. Neither Zeno nor Basiliscus, the two generals fighting for the eastern throne at the time of Romulus's accession, accepted him as ruler. Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. However, few of Nepos' contemporaries were willing to support his cause after he had fled to Dalmatia. Odoacer's deposition of Romulus Augustus, occurring in 476 AD, was a coup that marked the end of the reign of the Western Roman Emperor last approved by the Western Roman Senate and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy, although Julius Nepos exercised control over Dalmatia until 480. Some historians regard Julius Nepos, who ruled in Dalmatia until he was murdered in 480, as the last lawful Western Roman Emperor. [6] Several months after Orestes took power, a coalition of Heruli, Scirian, and Turcilingi mercenaries demanded that he give them a third of the land in Italy. Romulus, however, was spared because of his youth; Odoacer gave him a pension and sent him to live with his relatives in Campania, a region of southern Italy. [11], Orestes was appointed Magister militum by Julius Nepos in 475. [26], This article is about the Roman emperor. Some sources suggest that Julius Nepos claimed to hold the title of emperor legally when Odoacer took power. Romulus Augustus (Augustulus was a nickname) was deposed by Odoacer, a barbarian and a military commander of troops allied with the Romans. Letzter vom Oströmischen Reich anerkannter Kaiser war jedoch sein Vorgänger Julius Nepos. His original surname was Augustus, but it was changed to the diminutive because he was still a child when his father, after driving the Western emperor Julius Nepos from Italy, elevated him to the throne on October 31, 475. The administration was carried on cautiously and shrewdly by Orestes. [6] Thomas Hodgkin, a translator of Cassiodorus' works, wrote in 1886 that it was "surely possible" the Romulus in the letter was the same person as the last western emperor. Romulus Augustulus (eigentlich Romulus Augustus;[1] * um 460; nach 476) war der letzte Kaiser des Weströmischen Reiches, der in Italien herrschte. Born: c461 AD. Orestes was captured near Piacenza on 28 August 476 and swiftly executed. Only one year after his accession to the throne the Germanic general Odoaker removed the teenager and banished him to an estate near Naples. [6][20] Jordanes and Marcellinus Comes say Odoacer exiled Romulus to Campania but do not mention any financial support from the Germanic king. Shortly after coming to the new post, Orestes organized a rebellion and seized Ravenna, the capital of the Western Empire sin…