THE ROMAN DYNASTIES OF ROME & CONSTANTINOPLE

455AD-476 AD
THE LAST- EMPERORS OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE
^{NOT WITH BANG BUT WITH A WIMPER}
Under  Ricimer the Last Days of the Empire.—The authority of the Western Roman emperors became limited to Italy, and even here it was reduced to a mere shadow. The barbarians were the real power behind the throne. The Roman armies were made up mostly of barbarians, under the control of barbarian generals; and even the direction of affairs at the capital was in the hands of barbarian chiefs. The place which Stilicho the Vandal had held under Honorius, was filled by Ricimer the Goth during the last years of the empire.. For seventeen years (455-472) Ricimer exercised absolute authority, setting up and deposing emperors at his will.
The Roman Empire in the West had in fact already passed away, and nothing was now left but to extinguish its name.  Odoacer deposes Romulus Augustulus (A.D. 476).—The part which Ricimer had played as “king-maker” was now assumed by Orestes the Pannonian, who received the title of patrician. Orestes placed upon the throne his son, Romulus Augustulus, a boy six years of age.

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