He was put on the throne in 475 by his father, Orestes, a military general, after a coup against the previous Emperor, Julius Nepos. He was deposed in AD 476, after a 'reign' of less than one year, by the Germanic king Odoacer. Odoacer's decision to forego taking the title Emperor marked the end of the Roman Empire in the West. In truth the Empire was only a shell of its former self in its last years, having no real influence outside of Italy. | He was put on the throne in 475 by his father, Orestes, a military general, after a coup against the previous Emperor, Julius Nepos. He was deposed in AD 476, after a 'reign' of less than one year, by the Germanic king Odoacer. Odoacer's decision to forego taking the title Emperor marked the end of the Roman Empire in the West. In truth the Empire was only a shell of its former self in its last years, having no real influence outside of Italy. |