Romulus Augustulus is often called the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire. His reign was very short, and in 476 CE, the western empire fell—an important turning point in world history.
Romulus Augustulus was a Roman emperor who ruled the Western Roman Empire from 475–476 CE. What makes him especially unique is that he was very young—probably only about 14 years old when he became emperor.
Romulus did not gain power because he was a great leader. Instead, his father, Orestes, was a military commander who placed his son on the throne so he could rule behind the scenes. Because of this, Romulus had very little real control over the empire.
By the late 400s CE, the Western Roman Empire was in serious decline. The government struggled to collect taxes, the army depended on foreign soldiers, and different groups competed for power. In 476 CE, a Germanic military leader named Odoacer removed Romulus from the throne.
Even though Romulus ruled for only about a year, he is remembered as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire. His removal marks an important turning point in history. Roman rule continued in the east, but the west would never again have a Roman emperor.
