Editing Romulus Augustulus (section)

=== Geopolitical background ===
{{See also|Fall of the Western Roman Empire}}
[[File:Western and Eastern Roman Empires 476AD-es.svg|left|thumb|300px|The [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern]] (orange) and Western (green) Roman Empires in 476]]
By the time of emperor [[Diocletian]] ({{Reign}}284–305), the idea that the [[Roman Empire]] had grown so large that it would be better managed by two co-ruling emperors, rather than one, had become established. After various divisions were made throughout the 4th century, the empire was firmly and permanently divided into a western and eastern sphere of imperial administration from the death of emperor [[Theodosius I]] ({{Reign}}379–395) in 395 onwards.{{Sfn|Corning|2015|p=32}} Though modern historians typically use the terms [[Western Roman Empire]] and [[Eastern Roman Empire]] to describe the new political situation, the Romans themselves never considered the empire to have been formally divided, still viewing it as a single unit, although most often having two rulers rather than one.{{sfn|Bury|2015|p=278}} Over the course of the 5th century, the western empire experienced a period of catastrophic decline. Not only were many of the rulers in the west generally lacking in competence, but they also faced enormous problems. In comparison with the eastern provinces, much of the west was more rural, with fewer people and a less stable economy. An increasing number of [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] [[barbarian]] invasions and settlements throughout the west only added to these issues.{{Sfn|Corning|2015|p=32}}

In 410, the [[Visigoths]] under [[Alaric I]] had [[Sack of Rome (410)|sacked]] Rome and in 455, the last western emperor of Theodosius' dynasty, [[Valentinian III]] ({{Reign}}425–455), was deposed and murdered. That same year, Rome was [[Sack of Rome (455)|sacked again]] for the second time in less than fifty years, this time by the [[Vandals]]. The Roman army became increasingly reliant on barbarian mercenaries and after Valentinian's murder, the most powerful barbarian generals, such as [[Ricimer]] ({{Circa}} 418–472), became politically dominant, ruling through proclaiming [[Puppet monarch|puppet emperors]].{{Sfn|Herrin|2019|p=77}} In the twenty years between the death of Valentinian and the accession of Romulus Augustus, eight different emperors ruled in the west.{{Sfn|Gibbon|1872|p=99}} By 475, the western empire was in critical condition. Outside of Italy, authority was only exercised in [[Raetia]] and some regions of [[Gaul]].{{Sfn|Mathisen|1997}}

The ruling emperor in 475 was [[Julius Nepos]], who had been in power for less than a year.{{Sfn|McEvoy|2012}} Nepos had been appointed western emperor in 474 by the eastern emperors [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I]] ({{Reign}}457–474) and [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]] ({{Reign}}474–491), but had little real support in the west. In 475, Nepos named [[Orestes (father of Romulus Augustulus)|Orestes]] as a [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] and ''[[magister militum]]'' ('master of soldiers'; effectively commander-in-chief), replacing the previous holder of that office, [[Ecdicius]]. Orestes was a distinguished late Roman figure, once having served as ''[[notarius]]'' (secretary) to the [[Huns|Hunnic]] king [[Attila]].{{Sfn|Mathisen|1997}} As ''magister militum'', Orestes was tasked by Nepos to lead an army against [[Visigoths]] and [[Burgundians]], ''[[foederati]]'' (barbarian allies of the empire) who were rebelling in southern Gaul.{{Sfn|Kos|2008|p=439}} The army given to Orestes by Nepos was multi-ethnic, with many ''foederati'' soldiers. Heeding the grievances of his troops (among other things learning that Nepos had refused requests for land grants {{Sfn|McEvoy|2012}}), Orestes defied the emperor's orders and marched on [[Ravenna]], the capital of the western empire. On 28 August 475, Orestes entered Ravenna with his army and Nepos escaped across the [[Adriatic Sea]] to [[Salona]] in [[Dalmatia]].{{Sfn|Mathisen|1997}}{{Sfn|Kos|2008|p=439}}{{Sfn|McEvoy|2012}}