Odoacer

Odoacer, ODOVACAR, the ruler of Italy from the year 476 to 493, was the son of Edico, a captain of the Germanic Scyri. He entered the military service of the western Roman empire, and rapidly rose to eminence. He took part in the revolution by which Orestes (475) drove the Emperor Julius Nepos from the throne, and conferred on his son Romulus the title of Augustus, which the people scoffingly changed into Augustulus. He soon perceived the weakness of the new ruler, and at the head of the Germanic mercenaries—Herulians, Rugians, Turcilingians, and Scyri—marched against Pavia, which Orestes had garrisoned, stormed the city, and put his opponent to death (476). Romulus abdicated, and withdrew into obscurity. Thus perished the Roman empire. Odoacer showed himself to be a wise, moderate, and politic ruler, sought to conciliate the Byzantine emperor Zeno, and, with the title of Patricius, ruled Italy from Ravenna. The barbarian ruler did everything in his power to lift Italy out of the deplorable condition into which she had sunk. Though an Arian himself, he acted with a kindly impartiality that more orthodox monarchs have rarely exhibited. He conducted a successful campaign in Dalmatia, and against the Rugii on the Danube. The increasing power of Odoacer excited the jealousy and alarm of Zeno, who encouraged Theoderic, king of the Ostrogoths, to undertake an expedition against Italy (489). Odoacer, defeated in three great battles (at Isonzo, at Verona, and on the Adda), shut himself up in Ravenna, which he bravely defended for three years. Compelled by famine, he capitulated (493) on condition that the kingdom of Italy should be shared between him and Theoderic; but a fortnight after Odoacer was assassinated at a feast by Theoderic himself. See Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders.