Early Middle Ages (475-1000)
Odovacar

First babarian king of Italy. A German warrior, he entered Italy around 470 with his tribe and joined the Roman army; when Julius Nepos was overthrown by the Roman general Orestes, Odovacar led his tribesmen in a revolt. His troops proclaimed him king in 476 (generally considered to be the end of the Western Roman Empire). Although the Eastern emperor Zeno thought of Julius Nepos as Westerm emperor, Odovacar refused to recognize this man's authority, as did the Senate at Rome.