Learn / Events / Classical Antiquity / Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

476 AD · Classical Antiquity

Politics

On September 4, 476 AD, the Germanic leader Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor. Odoacer then established himself as the first King of Italy. This event is traditionally considered to mark the end of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Early Middle Ages in Europe.

Key Figures

Odoacer

Locations

RomeMisenumRavenna

Topics

erasEuropebarbarian invasionsGermanic tribespolitical transitionsimperial collapse

Connected Events — 1 Connection

Hannibal's tactical victories demonstrated Roman military vulnerability and accelerated the recruitment of Germanic foederati as auxiliary troops, establishing the precedent of barbarian military integration that would eventually enable leaders like Odoacer to depose Roman emperors from within Potter's Wheel Invented

3600 BC · Technology · Prehistoric

The Time Detectives® · Cadet Mission

Investigate This Event

Place it on the timeline. Earn points. Master the connections.

Start →

New to The Time Detectives? Learn what it is →