Since 395, the emperors in the Western Roman Empire have usually been figureheads.

For most of the time, the actual rulers have been military strongmen who have taken the title of magister militum, patrician or both—Stilicho from 395 to 408, Constantius from about 411 to 421, Aëtius from 433 to 454 and Ricimer from about 457 to 472.

The year 476 is generally accepted as the formal end of the Western Roman Empire.

This year, Orestes refuses the request of Germanic mercenaries in his service for lands in Italy.

The dissatisfied mercenaries, including the Heruli, revolt under the leadership of the Germanic chieftain Odoacer.

Odoacer and his men capture and execute Orestes.

Within weeks, Ravenna is captured and Romulus Augustus is deposed, the event that has been traditionally considered the fall of the Roman Empire, at least in the West.

Odoacer quickly conquers the remaining provinces of Italy.Odoacer then sends the Imperial Regalia back to the emperor Zeno in Constantinople.

Zeno soon receives two deputations.

One is from Odoacer requesting that his control of Italy be formally recognized by the Empire, in which case he will acknowledge Zeno's supremacy.

The other deputation is from Nepos, asking for support to regain the throne.

Zeno grants Odoacer the title Patrician.

Zeno tells Odoacer and the Roman Senate to take Nepos back; however, Nepos is never to return from Dalmatia, even though Odoacer issued coins in his name.