Who was Romulus Augustulus and why is he significant?
Romulus Augustulus was the western Roman emperor from the 31st of October 475 to the 4th of September 476. He is typically regarded as the last Western Roman emperor, making his deposition one of the most commonly used dates to mark the end of antiquity and the beginning of the medieval period. He was also notable for bearing the names of both Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, and Augustus, the first Roman emperor.
How old was Romulus Augustulus when he became emperor?
Romulus Augustulus was perhaps as young as ten years old when he was proclaimed emperor on the 31st of October 475. His young age was the origin of his derisive nickname "Augustulus," meaning "little Augustus."
Who deposed Romulus Augustulus and what happened to him afterward?
The barbarian general Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus on the 4th of September 476, after defeating and executing Romulus's father Orestes in battle at Ticinum on the 28th of August 476. Odoacer spared Romulus on account of his youth and beauty, granting him an annual pension of 6,000 solidi and an estate at Castellum Lucullanum in Campania near Naples.
What does the nickname Augustulus mean?
Augustulus means "little Augustus" in Latin. It was a derisive nickname applied to Romulus Augustus in reference to his young age and was never used in official documents; all of his surviving coins use the name Romulus Augustus.
Was Romulus Augustulus really the last Roman emperor?
This is debated among historians. Some scholars, including Ralph W. Mathisen and Marjeta Sasel Kos, argue that Julius Nepos was the true last western Roman emperor, as he continued to rule in exile in Dalmatia with eastern support until his murder in 480, while Romulus was never recognised by the eastern emperor Zeno. The tradition of calling Romulus the last emperor dates to early 6th-century eastern Roman writers such as Marcellinus Comes.
What happened to Castellum Lucullanum where Romulus Augustulus was exiled?
Castellum Lucullanum, near Naples in Campania, was originally built by the Roman consul and general Lucius Licinius Lucullus in the 60s BC and had once served as the retirement villa of emperor Tiberius. Romulus may have helped found a monastery there dedicated to Saint Severinus of Noricum in the 480s or early 490s. The monastery became prominent under Pope Gregory I and remained active until the 10th century.