<P> Flavius Odoacer ( c. 433 -- 493 AD ) , also known as Flavius Odovacer or Odovacar ( Italian : Odoacre , Latin : Odoacer , Odoacar , Odovacar , Odovacris ) , was a soldier who in 476 became the first King of Italy ( 476 -- 493 ) . His reign is commonly seen as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire . Though the real power in Italy was in his hands , he represented himself as the client of the Emperor in Constantinople . Odoacer generally used the Roman honorific patrician , granted by the Emperor Zeno , but is referred to as a king ( Latin : rex ) in many documents and he himself used it in the only surviving official document emanated from his chancery ; also it was used by the consul Basilius . Odoacer introduced few important changes into the administrative system of Italy . He had the support of the Roman Senate and was able to distribute land to his followers without much opposition . Unrest among his warriors led to violence in 477 -- 478 , but no such disturbances occurred during the later period of his reign . Although Odoacer was an Arian Christian , he rarely intervened in the affairs of the orthodox and trinitarian state church of the Roman Empire . </P>
<P> Flavius Odoacer ( c. 433 -- 493 AD ) , also known as Flavius Odovacer or Odovacar ( Italian : Odoacre , Latin : Odoacer , Odoacar , Odovacar , Odovacris ) , was a soldier who in 476 became the first King of Italy ( 476 -- 493 ) . His reign is commonly seen as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire . Though the real power in Italy was in his hands , he represented himself as the client of the Emperor in Constantinople . Odoacer generally used the Roman honorific patrician , granted by the Emperor Zeno , but is referred to as a king ( Latin : rex ) in many documents and he himself used it in the only surviving official document emanated from his chancery ; also it was used by the consul Basilius . Odoacer introduced few important changes into the administrative system of Italy . He had the support of the Roman Senate and was able to distribute land to his followers without much opposition . Unrest among his warriors led to violence in 477 -- 478 , but no such disturbances occurred during the later period of his reign . Although Odoacer was an Arian Christian , he rarely intervened in the affairs of the orthodox and trinitarian state church of the Roman Empire . </P>
who captured rome in 476 ad and declared himself the king of italy
who captured rome in 476 ad and declared himself the king of italy
Flavius Odoacer
Flavius Odoacer