Odoacer Quotes

The third and final barbarian invasion took place in the autumn of 476 CE. The Heruli, another tribe with Germanic roots, invaded. In the Battle of Ravenna, they captured the young Emperor Romulus Augustulus. The Heruli king, Odoacer, forced him to abdicate, officially ending Roman rule in Italy.

Zeno would later send another “delegate” to Italy, Theoderic the Goth, to replace Odoacer;

Odoacer made few changes here too.

This reform was prompted by Odoacer’s decision to split off parts of his territory, including Sicily

In Theoderic’s Italy, Odoacer was considered a tyrant.

The clergyman depicts Odoacer as a cowardly and wily weakling who was afraid of his own soldiers

In the Vita of bishop Epiphanius of Ticinum, Ennodius describes Odoacer as the instrument of the devil.

Odoacer confirmed the senators’ privileges and even granted them additional freedom

Odoacer adopted a completely new position.

Odoacer was a Homoean;

with the remark that Zeno addressed Odoacer as patricius in the letter

That cannot have meant the same thing that Odoacer understood by that term.

Zeno wanted precisely not to give Odoacer the status of a “generalissimo” and governor of Italy.

It is doubtful that Odoacer was satisfied with that.

Odoacer’s relationship with the Eastern Roman emperor was as undefined as his status as king.

Odoacer initiated negotiations through the Catholic bishop John in February 493 and concluded a treaty on February 25.