476 CEReputable source · 2 sourcesDebated
The Fall of the Western Roman Empire
On the timeline · around 476 CE ·
What happened
In 476 CE the Germanic commander Odoacer deposed the young emperor Romulus Augustulus and, rather than name a successor, sent the imperial regalia to Constantinople and ruled Italy as king. No emperor reigned in the West thereafter.
Why it matters
By convention 476 CE marks the end of the Western Roman Empire and of classical antiquity — though the eastern (Byzantine) Empire would endure for another thousand years.
How we know
Historians treat the 'fall' as a long process; 476 is a conventional marker, and some date the end instead to 480 CE with the death of Julius Nepos.
The 'fall' was a gradual process; 476 CE is a conventional marker, with 480 CE sometimes preferred.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Fall of the Western Roman Empire · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Odoacer · Reputable source