Odoacer, << `oh` doh AY suhr >> (A.D. 434?-493), was the Germanic leader who overthrew the last emperor of Rome in the West, ending the West Roman Empire.
Odoacer was probably born near the Danube River in what is now Germany. He joined the West Roman army and became a leader of barbarian (non-Roman) troops in the service of Rome. The Romans referred to all non-Romans as barbarians. In 476, when the Roman government refused to give his troops land for settlement, Odoacer led them in a revolt. Odoacer deposed the West Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, and became the first barbarian king of Italy. Historians consider this event the end of the West Roman Empire. But for years, barbarian generals had been its real rulers. The emperors were symbolic rulers.
Odoacer ruled independently, though he pretended to serve Zeno, the East Roman emperor. Zeno never recognized Odoacer as ruler of Italy. In 488, Zeno sent the Ostrogoth king Theodoric to attack Odoacer. Odoacer retreated to Ravenna, where he surrendered in 493 and was executed on March 15 (see Theodoric ).
