Western Roman Emperor
The Western Roman Empire, often contrasted with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), was the western half of the Roman Empire after the division in 285 AD under Emperor Diocletian. Here are some key details:
Establishment
- The division of the Roman Empire into two administrative units was formalized by Diocletian with the creation of the Tetrarchy, where he appointed Maximian as the co-emperor (Augustus) for the Western Roman Empire.
- The empire was later permanently divided after the death of Theodosius I in 395 AD, when his two sons, Honorius and Arcadius, inherited the western and eastern halves respectively.
Notable Emperors
- Julius Nepos (474-480 AD) was the last emperor to rule a unified Western Empire with a significant degree of authority.
- Romulus Augustulus (476 AD) is traditionally considered the last Western Roman Emperor, although his rule was nominal and he was deposed by the Germanic king Odoacer.
Decline and Fall
- The Western Roman Empire experienced a decline due to numerous factors including military defeats, economic instability, political corruption, and external invasions by various barbarian tribes like the Visigoths, Vandals, and Ostrogoths.
- In 476 AD, Odoacer, the leader of the Heruli, deposed Romulus Augustulus, marking the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire. Odoacer did not claim the title of Emperor but instead ruled as King of Italy under the suzerainty of the Eastern Roman Emperor.
Legacy
- The fall of the Western Roman Empire did not mark the end of Roman civilization or Roman law, as these continued in the Eastern Roman Empire, which persisted until 1453.
- Many of the territories of the Western Empire were eventually absorbed by various Germanic Kingdoms, but the administrative, cultural, and legal systems of Rome left a lasting influence on Europe.
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