 The struggle between Basiliscus and Zeno impeded the Eastern Roman Empire 's ability to intervene in the fall of the Western Roman Empire , which happened in early September 476 . When the chieftain of the Heruli , Odoacer , deposed Western Emperor Romulus Augustus , sending the imperial regalia to Constantinople , Zeno had just regained his throne , and he could only appoint Odoacer dux of Italy , thereby ending the Western Roman Empire . 
