v49_0964 - GUIILIO NEPO Tremissis

JULIUS NEPOS

(06/24/474 - 08/28/475)

Julius Nepos is independent and dominates Dalmatia when he is proclaimed Augustus in June 474, on the deposition of Glycère who receives in compensation the bishopric of Salone. Slowly supported by the emperor of the East when Zeno himself faced the usurpation of Basiliscus and his son Marcus, Julius Nepos could not stay in power. He is overthrown by his Magister Militum Orestes. The latter proclaimed his son, Romulus Augustule, on October 31, 475. He could only maintain himself for a year, until September 4, 476. On this date, Odoacer deposed the last emperor of the West and returned the imperial insignia in Constantinople, marking the fictitious meeting of the two "parts" of the Empire, Odoacer becoming patrician. Meanwhile, Julius Nepos has retired to Damaltia, his home territory. He takes the purple, but never really holds power and dies assassinated in 480 at the instigation of Zeno, with the help of Theodoric, future competitor of Odoacer.