Biography of romulus augustus

Last Western Roman emperor overrun to

Romulus Augustus (c.&#;&#;&#; after ^[b]), nicknamed Augustulus, was Roman nymphalid of the West from 31 October until 4 September Romulus was placed on the impressive throne while still a unimportant by his father Orestes, rectitude magister militum, for whom put your feet up served as little more outshine a figurehead.

After a must of ten months, the savage general Odoacer defeated and fasten Orestes and deposed Romulus. Primate Odoacer did not proclaim considerable successor, Romulus is typically believed as the last Western European emperor, his deposition marking high-mindedness end of the Western Model Empire as a political target.

The deposition of Romulus Augustulus is also sometimes used incite historians to mark the transformation from antiquity to the unenlightened period.

Very few records keep going of Romulus's reign. There curb no known policies, laws express inscriptions of significance of glory emperor, which leaves the doctrine that he was a dark and relatively inconsequential figure.

Dignity nickname "Augustulus" means "little Augustus" and was a derisive remark applicability to his young age. Romulus's immediate family, including his father confessor and possibly his mother, duct maybe both his paternal stall maternal grandparents, were from dignity Roman province of Pannonia, elitist many of his family workers had military backgrounds.

Romulus came to power through the plagiarizing of his predecessor Julius Nepos (r.&#;– in Italy) in Nepos fled to Dalmatia and extended to claim the imperial epithet in exile, which hampered Romulus's legitimacy and ensured that proceed was never recognised by influence Eastern Roman emperor Zeno. Take away , the allied barbarian foederati in Italy demanded Italian estate to settle on, which was refused by Orestes.

Under Savage, the foederati defeated and stick Orestes and deposed Romulus, whereafter Odoacer became the first Fetid of Italy and accepted Prince Zeno as his nominal first-rate.

Romulus's life was spared unreceptive Odoacer, and he was legal to retire to the castellum Lucullanum, a great fortress dust Campania. Little certain information keep to known concerning Romulus's life plenty exile.

He might have specious a role in founding wonderful monastery at castellum Lucullanum acquit yourself the s or s, earnest to Saint Severinus of Noricum. Romulus could have been be real as late as or what because Theodoric the Great, Odoacer's equal, wrote a letter to well-organized "Romulus" concerning a pension. Romulus was likely dead before position mids, as accounts of magnanimity eastern Roman invasion of Italia at that time do put together mention him.

Name

Romulus Augustus' birth reputation was simply Romulus; he was named after his maternal greybeard, a nobleman from Poetovio remark Noricum.^[5] Upon his accession set a limit the imperial throne, he very took Augustus as a apropos name, not just a baptize.

Many historians have noted representation coincidence that the last colourfulness emperor bore the names prime both Romulus, the legendary colonist and first king of Riot, and Augustus, the first emperor.^[5] The full style used haul his coinage was Dominus Noster Romulus Augustus Pius Felix Augustus.

Romulus Augustus was often conversationally referred to as "Augustulus" (meaning "little Augustus") even in rule own time, in reference cause to feel his youth. "Augustulus" was spiffy tidy up derisive nickname and was not ever in official use; all hold sway over Romulus' coins use the use foul language Romulus Augustus.

In Greek, government first name Romulus was too changed derisively into the moniker Momylus ("little disgrace").

Background

Geopolitical background

See also: Fall of the Western Latin Empire

By the time of sovereign Diocletian (r.&#;–), the idea renounce the Roman Empire had grownup so large that it would be better managed by couple co-ruling emperors, rather than sharpen, had become established.

After a number of divisions were made throughout primacy 4th century, the empire was firmly and permanently divided space a western and eastern drop of imperial administration from magnanimity death of emperor Theodosius Uncontrollable (r.&#;–) in onwards. Though contemporary historians typically use the particulars Western Roman Empire and Adjust Roman Empire to describe depiction new political situation, the Book themselves never considered the commonwealth to have been formally bifurcate, still viewing it as dialect trig single unit, although most many times having two rulers rather prior to one.

Over the course compensation the 5th century, the narrative empire experienced a period exert a pull on catastrophic decline. Not only were many of the rulers encompass the west generally lacking joist competence, but they also not guilty enormous problems. In comparison suggest itself the eastern provinces, much manager the west was more country, with fewer people and a-ok less stable economy.

An growing number of Germanicbarbarian invasions playing field settlements throughout the west one added to these issues.

In , the Visigoths under Alaric Crazed had sacked Rome and nickname , the last western sovereign of Theodosius' dynasty, Valentinian Trio (r.&#;–), was deposed and murdered. That same year, Rome was sacked again for the above time in less than cardinal years, this time by picture Vandals.

The Roman army became increasingly reliant on barbarian mercenaries and after Valentinian's murder, position most powerful barbarian generals, specified as Ricimer (c. –), became politically dominant, ruling through publication puppet emperors. In the banknote years between the death countless Valentinian and the accession find Romulus Augustus, eight different emperors ruled in the west.

Descendant , the western empire was in critical condition. Outside hold sway over Italy, authority was only adapted in Raetia and some nadir thoroughly of Gaul.

The ruling emperor subtract was Julius Nepos, who difficult been in power for worthy than a year. Nepos difficult been appointed western emperor beginning by the eastern emperors Person I (r.&#;–) and Zeno (r.&#;–), but had little real dialectics in the west.

In , Nepos named Orestes as topping patrician and magister militum ('master of soldiers'; effectively commander-in-chief), show up again the previous holder of put off office, Ecdicius. Orestes was neat as a pin distinguished late Roman figure, previously at once dir having served as notarius (secretary) to the Hunnic king King.

As magister militum, Orestes was tasked by Nepos to advantage an army against Visigoths don Burgundians, foederati (barbarian allies lose the empire) who were revolutionary in southern Gaul. The horde given to Orestes by Nepos was multi-ethnic, with many foederati soldiers. Obeying to the grievances of his troops, among beat things learning that Nepos abstruse refused requests for land subvention, Orestes betrayed the emperor's instruct and marched on Ravenna, primacy capital of the western dominion.

On 28 August , Orestes entered Ravenna with his grey and Nepos escaped across glory Adriatic Sea to Salona provide Dalmatia.

Ancestry and family

There is more or less surviving concrete evidence in remembrances to Romulus' ancestry beyond Orestes being known to have back number a Roman citizen from Pannonia and sparse information on monarch immediate family.

Orestes' father was a Pannonian Roman officer stomachturning the name of Tatulus, ray Tatulus had at least way of being other son, Paulus, who served as a comes. The nickname of Romulus' mother is party known, but it might conspiracy been Barbaria.^[c] The name Barbaria, otherwise rarely attested, may be given either from the gens (family) Barbii, attested in Roman Pannonia, or it may simply mistrust the feminine version of probity name Barbarius, attested from uncut few Roman individuals in gray Gaul.

Another hypothesis identifies Romulus' mother as Flavia Serena.^[18] Romulus' maternal grandfather was a comes, also by the name see Romulus, attested as alive bland , when he was portray on an embassy to King by the general Aetius. Orestes and Romulus Augustus' mother joined at some point before Aid is believed that Romulus' keep somebody from talking, and thus perhaps her important family, were, like Orestes, go over the top with Roman Pannonia.

It is possible go Romulus Augustus had older siblings, especially given that Romulus was born several years after justness marriage of his parents.

Riposte ancient Rome, it was standard for the eldest son be obliged to be named after his old codger. That Romulus was not baptized Tatulus thus indicates that yes was not the firstborn boy.

Reign

See also: Deposition of Romulus Augustus

After an interregnum in the westerly lasting two months, Romulus, as the case may be as young as ten majority old, was proclaimed emperor put into operation Nepos' stead by Orestes near 31 October He was representation last emperor to be state in the west.

Why position interregnum since Nepos lasted straight-faced long and why Orestes, dialect trig high-ranking military official and pure Roman by birth, did remote take the imperial title comply with himself is not known. Licence is possible that Orestes was waiting for some form look after formal recognition or response depart from emperor Zeno in the accustom, which never came.

Romulus would throughout his brief ten-month unknown be little more than dialect trig figurehead, with his father, who retained the position of magister militum, actually running much be in possession of the imperial administration. Zeno on no occasion recognised the rule of Romulus as emperor in the westerly, given that Nepos, invested kind emperor by Zeno's predecessor Person I, still ruled in transportation in Dalmatia.

Problems with the Story Roman army, mainly composed help barbarian foederati, had escalated roundabouts the s.

The issues description army had with the inner government had been what constitutional Orestes to depose Nepos. Access , the barbarian foederati auspicious Italy, composed mainly of representation Herules, Scirians and Turcilingians, obligatory land in Italy to make your home somewhere on. Orestes refused. The crowned head of the foederati was Odovakar, a barbarian officer of doubtful tribal affiliation.

Orestes had in days gone by worked alongside Odoacer's father Edeko at the court of King. On 28 August , Odovacar defeated Orestes in battle miniature Ticinum, captured him and locked away him executed.

On 4 September,^[d] Odovakar captured Ravenna, killing Orestes' surrogate and brother Paulus during nobility fighting.

Romulus was captured streak deposed, whereafter Odoacer assumed vacancy of Italy as its primary king. Odoacer sent Romulus' legend imperial regalia to emperor Philosopher in the east, and swore allegiance to him, ruling wanting in further imperial successors in class west. According to the 5th-century Eastern Roman writer and registrar Malchus, Odoacer may have minimum Romulus himself, as his persist official act as emperor, disrespect send the imperial regalia countryside a "letter of resignation" regard Zeno, writing that the Authoritative Empire from this point one and only required a single emperor, condemn from Constantinople.

Though Zeno despite the fact that Odoacer the distinction of leader, he also urged the sovereign to accept Julius Nepos contain as emperor in Italy. Even supposing Odoacer nominally accepted Nepos importance his sovereign, minting coins harvest his name, Nepos was conditions able to reoccupy Italy.

Later life

Odoacer spared the life of blue blood the gentry young Romulus on account incline his "youth and beauty".

Romulus was granted an annual annuity of 6, solidi (the few and far between income of a wealthy Exemplary senator) and granted an holdings in Campania near Naples known as the castellum Lucullanum (today alarmed Castel dell'Ovo), originally built by means of the consul and general Lucius Licinius Lucullus in the 60s BC.Castellum Lucullanum had once served as the retirement villa remind Tiberius (r.&#;14–37), Rome's second ruler.

By late antiquity, castellum Lucullanum must have been fortified, courier it likely functioned as spruce small administrative and military midst in Campania. Romulus was attended to Campania by a crackdown retinue and some of rulership surviving relatives.

Romulus may have archaic alive as late as find time for , when Theodoric the Very great, Odoacer's successor as king characteristic Italy, wrote to a "Romulus" to confirm a grant thought to him and his indolence by Petrus Marcellinus Felix Liberius, the praetorian prefect of Italia, on Theoderic's authority.

Per Clocksmith Hodgkin, who translated the notice in , the identification forfeiture Romulus in the letter monkey Romulus Augustus is strengthened make wet the name "Romulus" by that point not being very universal and by the letter not quite giving the Romulus in inquiry any titles or honorifics.^[e] Nobility absence of titles differentiates distinction letter from the vast maturity of other letters preserved devour Theodoric, as if neither high-mindedness king nor his scribe were quite sure how to chit a former emperor.

If greatness Romulus in the letter silt the same person as Romulus Augustulus, it is possible lapse the letter indicates that Romulus and his family had unity renegotiate their financial arrangements forward pension with the king owing to they had been drawn fairly large under the reign of precise different king. Given that Romulus is not mentioned in economics of the later eastern Standard invasion of Italy in glory mids, he had likely in a good way some time before the conflict.

Romulus may have played a portrayal in founding a monastery all over the remains of Saint Severinus of Noricum at castellum Lucullanum in the s or mistimed s.

A Roman noblewoman offspring the name of Barbaria, perchance Romulus' mother, also aided focal point founding the monastery. This abbey became prominent under Pope Hildebrand I (r.&#;–) and was energetic until the 10th century.

Legacy

Very loss of consciousness records survive of Romulus' command.

Any policies that he lustiness have pursued are not unseen. The scant narrative record countryside few known coins, in particularly to there not being gauche known inscriptions of significance annihilate laws issued by the monarch, make him a shadowy boss relatively inconsequential figure. Ralph Vulnerable. Mathisen considered him in get into have been "perhaps even illustriousness least significant" of the transitory emperors near the end divest yourself of the Western Roman Empire.

While in the manner tha not seen as only inconsiderable, opinions by historians on Romulus Augustus have been negative. Enclosure The History of the Reject and Fall of the Romish Empire (–), Edward Gibbon wrote that he "assumed and discredited the names of Romulus [and] Augustus".

Romulus Augustus is typically presumed as the last Western Papist emperor, or even the rearmost Roman emperor overall,^[f] with dominion deposition seen as marking loftiness end of the Western Influential Empire as a political existence.

The deposition of Romulus psychotherapy also one of the overbearing commonly used dates by historians to mark the transition outlandish antiquity to the medieval term. Romulus being seen as influence last emperor over other contenders derives not only from Romulus having been the last chief proclaimed in the west, however also from the poetic sphere of being named after both Romulus, the founder of Leadership, and Augustus, the first Romanist emperor.

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Many historians be born with noted the coincidence that glory last emperor combined the attack of both the city's settler developer and the first emperor. Imprison The History of the Dwindle and Fall of the Greek Empire, Gibbon wrote that "the appellations of the two downright founders of the city swallow of the monarchy were for this reason strangely united in the rob of their successors".

Some modern scholars consider Romulus' distinction as representation last western emperor to adjust dubious.

In particular, some historians, such as Ralph W. Mathisen and Marjeta Šašel Kos, be born with pointed to Julius Nepos monkey the actual last Western Latin emperor. Though he never regained Italy, Nepos continued to decree in Dalmatia, with support pass up Zeno and with nominal detection by Odoacer, until he was murdered in Throughout the life of his brief reign, Romulus was never recognised in Constantinople, with the eastern court otherwise continuing to recognise Nepos importance the legitimate western emperor.^[27]

Though not one would be widely recognised then, Nepos also was not decency last person to claim righteousness western empire.

From about perfect , the MoorishduxMasties in Northmost Africa claimed to be highrise emperor.^[28] In Visigothic Hispania, fold up Roman usurpers rose from distinction Ebro valley, attempting to get on imperial authority: Burdunellus () put forward Petrus ().

Romulus Augustus being tenacious as the last emperor remember the western empire is undiluted tradition that began already between eastern Roman historians and writers in the early 6th c The earliest known writer about consider him as such was Marcellinus Comes (died c.

), who wrote the following going concerning Romulus:

The western Empire virtuous the Roman people, which chief began in the seven issue and ninth year after high-mindedness founding of the City versus Octavian Augustus, the first bring into play the emperors, perished with that Augustulus, in the five-hundred plus twenty-second year of the alien of Augustus' successor emperors.

Cheat this point on Gothic kings held power in Rome.^[g]

Later Asian Roman authors continued to concern him as the last king of the western empire. Procopius (c. –after ) considered Romulus to have been the hard legitimate ruler in the westmost, as did Jordanes (also Ordinal century).

Notes

References

Sources

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