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The Western Roman Empire ends

476 CE

Romulus Augustulus is removed by Odoacer

Estimated Rise and fall · Verified 2026-10-31 · WWV-HS-EM-001

Germanic general Odoacer removed the young emperor Romulus Augustulus and did not name a replacement. Historians use 476 as a convenient date for the end of Roman rule in the West, though decline was gradual.

The date is a convention. The Eastern Roman Empire continued for nearly 1,000 years.

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