22 Facts About Odoacer

Odoacer was referred to not only as a king, but as commander, or using the Roman honorific patrician, granted by Zeno.

Odoacer himself used the title of king in the only surviving official document that emanated from his chancery, and it was used by the consul Basilius.

Odoacer had the support of the Roman Senate and was able to distribute land to his followers without much opposition.

Odoacer executed the conspirators, conquered the region and incorporated it into his domain within two years.

When Illus, master of soldiers of the Eastern Empire, asked for Odoacer's help in 484 in his struggle to depose Zeno, Odoacer invaded Zeno's westernmost provinces.

However, historians Robert L Reynolds and Robert S Lopez explored the possibility that the name Odoacer was not Germanic, making several arguments that his ethnic background might lie elsewhere.

Odoacer's son is given two different names in ancient sources, Thelan and Oklan.

Odoacer escorted Priscus and other Imperial dignitaries back to Attila's camp.

Many historians, such as medieval scholar Michael Frassetto, accept that Odoacer was of Scirian heritage, because of the apparent family links to Edeko and Hunulf.

Finally, a passage from Eugippius's Life of Saint Severinus indicated that Odoacer was so tall that he had to bend down to pass through the doorway, which historian Bruce Macbain considers another strong argument that he was unlikely to have been a Hun, as ancient sources describe the Huns as shorter than Romans.

Historians such as Penny MacGeorge and Macbain avow that Odoacer was likely half-Scirian and half-Thuringian.

Odoacer is said to have "hastened the emperor's downfall", since he switched sides to join with Ricimer.

When Orestes was in 475 appointed Magister militum and patrician by the Western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos, Odoacer became head of the barbarian foederati military forces of Italy.

Odoacer was careful to observe form and made a pretence of acting on Nepos's authority, even issuing coins with both his image and that of Zeno.

In 476, Odoacer was proclaimed rex by his soldiers and dux Italiae by emperor Zeno, initiating a new administrative era over Roman lands.

Odoacer introduced a few important changes to the administrative system of Italy.

Odoacer achieved a solid diplomatic coup by inducing the Vandal king Gaiseric to cede Sicily to him.

When Julius Nepos was murdered by two of his retainers in his country house near Salona, Odoacer assumed the duty of pursuing and executing the assassins, and at the same time established his own rule in Dalmatia.

Odoacer exchanged messages with Illus, who had been in open revolt against Zeno since 484.

Odoacer emerged from Ravenna and started to besiege his rival.

Odoacer again was defeated and forced back into Ravenna, where Theodoric besieged him.

Odoacer died ten days later, slain by Theodoric while they shared a meal.