Fall of the Western Roman Empire. Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman emperor, is deposed by Odoacer, king of the Heruli, who proclaims himself king of Italy. Odoacer was a mercenary leader of the Roman imperial army who had rebelled against the young emperor. After defeating General Orestes, the powerful officer and father of the emperor, at Piacenza, he had conquered Ravenna, the capital of the Western Empire since 402. Although Roman rule continued in the Eastern Empire, Odoacer’s coronation marked the end of the original Roman Empire, confined within the borders of Italy.
