Odoacer

Odoacer was a Germanic chieftain who became significant in history for deposing the last Roman emperor of the West, Romulus Augustulus, in 476 AD. This event is often marked as the end of the Western Roman Empire. Odoacer declared himself king of Italy and ruled until he was defeated by the Ostrogoths in 493 AD. His reign symbolizes the transition from ancient Roman rule to medieval kingdoms in Europe, highlighting the fragmentation of power during that time. Odoacer is crucial for understanding the fall of Rome and the emergence of new political structures in post-Roman Europe.