Thehonorofanambassadorshouldbeexemptfromsuspicion；andEdeconhadlistenedtoaconspiracyagainstthelifeofhissovereign。Butthisapparentguiltwasexpiatedbyhismeritorrepentance；hisrankwaseminentandconspicuous；heenjoyedthefavorofAttila；andthetroopsunderhiscommand，whoguarded，intheirturn，theroyalvillage，consistedofatribeofScyrri，hisimmediateandhereditarysubjects。Intherevoltofthenations，theystilladheredtotheHuns；andmorethantwelveyearsafterwards，thenameofEdeconishonorablymentioned，intheirunequalcontestswiththeOstrogoths；whichwasterminated，aftertwobloodybattles，bythedefeatanddispersionoftheScyrri。^120Theirgallantleader，whodidnotsurvivethisnationalcalamity，lefttwosons，OnulfandOdoacer，tostrugglewithadversity，andtomaintainastheymight，byrapineorservice，thefaithfulfollowersoftheirexile。OnulfdirectedhisstepstowardsConstantinople，wherehesullied，bytheassassinationofagenerousbenefactor，thefamewhichhehadacquiredinarms。HisbrotherOdoacerledawanderinglifeamongtheBarbariansofNoricum，withamindandafortunesuitedtothemostdesperateadventures；andwhenhehadfixedhischoice，hepiouslyvisitedthecellofSeverinus，thepopularsaintofthecountry，tosolicithisapprobationandblessing。ThelownessofthedoorwouldnotadmittheloftystatureofOdoacer:
hewasobligedtostoop；butinthathumbleattitudethesaintcoulddiscernthesymptomsofhisfuturegreatness；andaddressinghiminaprophetictone，\"Pursue\"saidhe\"yourdesign；proceedtoItaly；youwillsooncastawaythiscoarsegarmentofskins；andyourwealthwillbeadequatetotheliberalityofyourmind。\"^121TheBarbarian，whosedaringspiritacceptedandratifiedtheprediction，wasadmittedintotheserviceoftheWesternempire，andsoonobtainedanhonorablerankintheguards。Hismannersweregraduallypolished，hismilitaryskillwasimproved，andtheconfederatesofItalywouldnothaveelectedhimfortheirgeneral，unlesstheexploitsofOdoacerhadestablishedahighopinionofhiscourageandcapacity。^122Theirmilitaryacclamationssalutedhimwiththetitleofking；butheabstained，duringhiswholereign，fromtheuseofthepurpleanddiadem，^123lestheshouldoffendthoseprinces，whosesubjects，bytheiraccidentalmixture，hadformedthevictoriousarmy，whichtimeandpolicymightinsensiblyuniteintoagreatnation。
[Footnote*:MansoobservesthattheevidencewhichidentifiesEdecon，thefatherofOdoacer，withthecolleagueofOrestes，isnotconclusive。GeschichtedesOst—GothischenReiches，p。32。
ButSt。MartininclinestoagreewithGibbon，note，vi。75。—M。]
[Footnote120:Jornandes，c。53，54，p。692—695。M。deBuatHist。desPeuplesdel\'Europe，tom。viii。p。221—228hasclearlyexplainedtheoriginandadventuresofOdoacer。IamalmostinclinedtobelievethathewasthesamewhopillagedAngers，andcommandedafleetofSaxonpiratesontheocean。
Greg。Turon。l。ii。c。18，intom。ii。p。170。
Note:AccordingtoSt。Martinthereisnofoundationforthisconjecture，vii5—M。]
[Footnote121:VadeadItaliam，vadevilissimisnuncpellibuscoopertis:sedmultiscitoplurimalargiturus。Anonym。Vales。
p。717。HequotesthelifeofSt。Severinus，whichisextant，andcontainsmuchunknownandvaluablehistory；itwascomposedbyhisdiscipleEugippiusA。D。511thirtyyearsafterhisdeath。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xvi。p。168—181。]
[Footnote122:Theophanes，whocallshimaGoth，affirms，thathewaseducated，aursedinItaly，p。102；andasthisstrongexpressionwillnotbearaliteralinterpretation，itmustbeexplainedbylongserviceintheImperialguards。]
[Footnote123:NomenregisOdoacerassumpsit，cumtamennequepurpuraneeregalibusutereturinsignibus。Cassiodor。inChron。
A。D。476。Heseemstohaveassumedtheabstracttitleofaking，withoutapplyingittoanyparticularnationorcountry。
Note:MansoobservesthatOdoacernevercalledhimselfkingofItaly，assumethepurple，andnocoinsareextantwithhisname。GescnichteOsiGoth。Reiches，p。36—M。]
RoyaltywasfamiliartotheBarbarians，andthesubmissivepeopleofItalywaspreparedtoobey，withoutamurmur，theauthoritywhichheshouldcondescendtoexerciseasthevicegerentoftheemperoroftheWest。ButOdoacerhadresolvedtoabolishthatuselessandexpensiveoffice；andsuchistheweightofantiqueprejudice，thatitrequiredsomeboldnessandpenetrationtodiscovertheextremefacilityoftheenterprise。
TheunfortunateAugustuluswasmadetheinstrumentofhisowndisgrace:hesignifiedhisresignationtothesenate；andthatassembly，intheirlastactofobediencetoaRomanprince，stillaffectedthespiritoffreedom，andtheformsoftheconstitution。Anepistlewasaddressed，bytheirunanimousdecree，totheemperorZeno，theson—in—lawandsuccessorofLeo；
whohadlatelybeenrestored，afterashortrebellion，totheByzantinethrone。Theysolemnly\"disclaimthenecessity，oreventhewish，ofcontinuinganylongertheImperialsuccessioninItaly；since，intheiropinion，themajestyofasolemonarchissufficienttopervadeandprotect，atthesametime，boththeEastandtheWest。Intheirownname，andinthenameofthepeople，theyconsentthattheseatofuniversalempireshallbetransferredfromRometoConstantinople；andtheybaselyrenouncetherightofchoosingtheirmaster，theonlyvestigethatyetremainedoftheauthoritywhichhadgivenlawstotheworld。TherepublictheyrepeatthatnamewithoutablushmightsafelyconfideinthecivilandmilitaryvirtuesofOdoacer；andtheyhumblyrequest，thattheemperorwouldinvesthimwiththetitleofPatrician，andtheadministrationofthedioceseofItaly。\"
ThedeputiesofthesenatewerereceivedatConstantinoplewithsomemarksofdispleasureandindignation:andwhentheywereadmittedtotheaudienceofZeno，hesternlyreproachedthemwiththeirtreatmentofthetwoemperors，AnthemiusandNepos，whomtheEasthadsuccessivelygrantedtotheprayersofItaly。\"Thefirst\"continuedhe\"youhavemurdered；thesecondyouhaveexpelled；butthesecondisstillalive，andwhilsthelivesheisyourlawfulsovereign。\"ButtheprudentZenosoondesertedthehopelesscauseofhisabdicatedcolleague。Hisvanitywasgratifiedbythetitleofsoleemperor，andbythestatueserectedtohishonorintheseveralquartersofRome；heentertainedafriendly，thoughambiguous，correspondencewiththepatricianOdoacer；andhegratefullyacceptedtheImperialensigns，thesacredornamentsofthethroneandpalace，whichtheBarbarianwasnotunwillingtoremovefromthesightofthepeople。^124
[Footnote124:Malchus，whoselossexcitesourregret，haspreservedinExcerpt。Legat。p。93thisextraordinaryembassyfromthesenatetoZeno。Theanonymousfragment，p。717，andtheextractfromCandidus，apudPhot。p。176，arelikewiseofsomeuse。]
InthespaceoftwentyyearssincethedeathofValentinian，nineemperorshadsuccessivelydisappeared；andthesonofOrestes，ayouthrecommendedonlybyhisbeauty，wouldbetheleastentitledtothenoticeofposterity，ifhisreign，whichwasmarkedbytheextinctionoftheRomanempireintheWest，didnotleaveamemorableerainthehistoryofmankind。^125ThepatricianOresteshadmarriedthedaughterofCountRomulus，ofPetovioinNoricum:thenameofAugustus，notwithstandingthejealousyofpower，wasknownatAquileiaasafamiliarsurname；
andtheappellationsofthetwogreatfounders，ofthecityandofthemonarchy，werethusstrangelyunitedinthelastoftheirsuccessors。^126ThesonofOrestesassumedanddisgracedthenamesofRomulusAugustus；butthefirstwascorruptedintoMomyllus，bytheGreeks，andthesecondhasbeenchangedbytheLatinsintothecontemptiblediminutiveAugustulus。ThelifeofthisinoffensiveyouthwassparedbythegenerousclemencyofOdoacer；whodismissedhim，withhiswholefamily，fromtheImperialpalace，fixedhisannualallowanceatsixthousandpiecesofgold，andassignedthecastleofLucullus，inCampania，fortheplaceofhisexileorretirement。^127AssoonastheRomansbreathedfromthetoilsofthePunicwar，theywereattractedbythebeautiesandthepleasuresofCampania；andthecountry—houseoftheelderScipioatLiternumexhibitedalastingmodeloftheirrusticsimplicity。^128ThedeliciousshoresoftheBayofNapleswerecrowdedwithvillas；andSyllaapplaudedthemasterlyskillofhisrival，whohadseatedhimselfontheloftypromontoryofMisenum，thatcommands，oneveryside，theseaandland，asfarastheboundariesofthehorizon。^129
ThevillaofMariuswaspurchased，withinafewyears，byLucullus，andthepricehadincreasedfromtwothousandfivehundred，tomorethanfourscorethousand，poundssterling。^130
ItwasadornedbythenewproprietorwithGrecianartsandAsiatictreasures；andthehousesandgardensofLucullusobtainedadistinguishedrankinthelistofImperialpalaces。
^131WhentheVandalsbecameformidabletothesea—coast，theLucullanvilla，onthepromontoryofMisenum，graduallyassumedthestrengthandappellationofastrongcastle，theobscureretreatofthelastemperoroftheWest。Abouttwentyyearsafterthatgreatrevolution，itwasconvertedintoachurchandmonastery，toreceivethebonesofSt。Severinus。Theysecurelyreposed，amidstthethebrokentrophiesofCimbricandArmenianvictories，tillthebeginningofthetenthcentury；whenthefortifications，whichmightaffordadangeroussheltertotheSaracens，weredemolishedbythepeopleofNaples。^132
[Footnote125:ThepreciseyearinwhichtheWesternempirewasextinguished，isnotpositivelyascertained。ThevulgareraofA。D。476appearstohavethesanctionofauthenticchronicles。
ButthetwodatesassignedbyJornandesc。46，p。680woulddelaythatgreateventtotheyear479；andthoughM。deBuathasoverlookedhisevidence，heproducestom。viii。p。261—288
manycollateralcircumstancesinsupportofthesameopinion。]
[Footnote126:SeehismedalsinDucange，Fam。Byzantin。p。81，
Priscus，Excerpt。Legat。p。56，Maffei，OsservazioniLetterarie，tom。iip。314。Wemayallegeafamousandsimilarcase。ThemeanestsubjectsoftheRomanempireassumedtheillustriousnameofPatricius，which，bytheconversionofIrelandhasbeencommunicatedtoawholenation。]
[Footnote127:IngrediensautemRavennamdeposuitAugustulumderegno，cujusinfantiammisertusconcessiteisanguinem；etquiapulchererat，tamendonaviteireditumsexmilliasolidos，etmisiteumintraCampaniamcumparentibussuisliberevivere。
Anonym。Vales。p。716。Jornandessays，c46，p。680，inLucullanoCampaniaecastelloexiliipoenadamnavit。]
[Footnote128:SeetheeloquentDeclamationofSeneca，Epist。
lxxxvi。Thephilosophermighthaverecollected，thatallluxuryisrelative；andthattheelderScipio，whosemannerswerepolishedbystudyandconversation，washimselfaccusedofthatvicebyhisrudercontemporaries，Livy，xxix。19。]
[Footnote129:Sylla，inthelanguageofasoldier，praisedhisperitiacastrametandi，Plin。Hist。Natur。xviii。7。Phaedrus，whomakesitsshadywalksloetaviridiathesceneofaninsipidfable，ii。5，hasthusdescribedthesituation:—
CaesarTiberiusquumpetensNeapolim，InMisenensemvillamvenissitsuam；
QuaemontesummopositaLucullimanuProspectatSiculumetprospicitTuscummare。]
[Footnote130:Fromsevenmyriadsandahalftotwohundredandfiftymyriadsofdrachmae。YeteveninthepossessionofMarius，itwasaluxuriousretirement。TheRomansderidedhisindolence；
theysoonbewailedhisactivity。SeePlutarch，inMario，tom。
ii。p。524。]
[Footnote131:Lucullushadothervillaofequal，thoughvarious，magnificence，atBaiae，Naples，Tusculum，&c。，Heboastedthathechangedhisclimatewiththestorksandcranes。Plutarch，inLucull。tom。iii。p。193。]
[Footnote132:SeverinusdiedinNoricum，A。D。482。Sixyearsafterwards，hisbody，whichscatteredmiraclesasitpassed，wastransportedbyhisdisciplesintoItaly。ThedevotionofaNeapolitanladyinvitedthesainttotheLucullanvilla，intheplaceofAugustulus，whowasprobablynomore。SeeBaroniusAnnal。Eccles。A。D。496，No。50，51andTillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。xvi。p。178—181，fromtheoriginallifebyEugippius。ThenarrativeofthelastmigrationofSeverinustoNaplesislikewiseanauthenticpiece。]
OdoacerwasthefirstBarbarianwhoreignedinItaly，overapeoplewhohadonceassertedtheirjustsuperiorityabovetherestofmankind。ThedisgraceoftheRomansstillexcitesourrespectfulcompassion，andwefondlysympathizewiththeimaginarygriefandindignationoftheirdegenerateposterity。
ButthecalamitiesofItalyhadgraduallysubduedtheproudconsciousnessoffreedomandglory。IntheageofRomanvirtuetheprovincesweresubjecttothearms，andthecitizenstothelaws，oftherepublic；tillthoselawsweresubvertedbycivildiscord，andboththecityandtheprovincebecametheservilepropertyofatyrant。Theformsoftheconstitution，whichalleviatedordisguisedtheirabjectslavery，wereabolishedbytimeandviolence；theItaliansalternatelylamentedthepresenceortheabsenceofthesovereign，whomtheydetestedordespised；
andthesuccessionoffivecenturiesinflictedthevariousevilsofmilitarylicense，capriciousdespotism，andelaborateoppression。Duringthesameperiod，theBarbarianshademergedfromobscurityandcontempt，andthewarriorsofGermanyandScythiawereintroducedintotheprovinces，astheservants，theallies，andatlengththemasters，oftheRomans，whomtheyinsultedorprotected。Thehatredofthepeoplewassuppressedbyfear；theyrespectedthespiritandsplendorofthemartialchiefswhowereinvestedwiththehonorsoftheempire；andthefateofRomehadlongdependedontheswordofthoseformidablestrangers。ThesternRicimer，whotrampledontheruinsofItaly，hadexercisedthepower，withoutassumingthetitle，ofaking；andthepatientRomanswereinsensiblypreparedtoacknowledgetheroyaltyofOdoacerandhisBarbaricsuccessors。
ThekingofItalywasnotunworthyofthehighstationtowhichhisvalorandfortunehadexaltedhim:hissavagemannerswerepolishedbythehabitsofconversation；andherespected，thoughaconquerorandaBarbarian，theinstitutions，andeventheprejudices，ofhissubjects。Afteranintervalofsevenyears，OdoacerrestoredtheconsulshipoftheWest。Forhimself，hemodestly，orproudly，declinedanhonorwhichwasstillacceptedbytheemperorsoftheEast；butthecurulechairwassuccessivelyfilledbyelevenofthemostillustrioussenators；
^133andthelistisadornedbytherespectablenameofBasilius，whosevirtuesclaimedthefriendshipandgratefulapplauseofSidonius，hisclient。^134Thelawsoftheemperorswerestrictlyenforced，andtheciviladministrationofItalywasstillexercisedbythePraetorianpraefectandhissubordinateofficers。OdoacerdevolvedontheRomanmagistratestheodiousandoppressivetaskofcollectingthepublicrevenue；buthereservedforhimselfthemeritofseasonableandpopularindulgence。^135LiketherestoftheBarbarians，hehadbeeninstructedintheArianheresy；buthereveredthemonasticandepiscopalcharacters；andthesilenceoftheCatholicsattestthetolerationwhichtheyenjoyed。ThepeaceofthecityrequiredtheinterpositionofhispraefectBasiliusinthechoiceofaRomanpontiff:thedecreewhichrestrainedtheclergyfromalienatingtheirlandswasultimatelydesignedforthebenefitofthepeople，whosedevotionswouldhavebeentaxedtorepairthedilapidationsofthechurch。^136Italywasprotectedbythearmsofitsconqueror；anditsfrontierswererespectedbytheBarbariansofGaulandGermany，whohadsolonginsultedthefeebleraceofTheodosius。OdoacerpassedtheAdriatic，tochastisetheassassinsoftheemperorNepos，andtoacquirethemaritimeprovinceofDalmatia。HepassedtheAlps，torescuetheremainsofNoricumfromFava，orFeletheus，kingoftheRugians，whoheldhisresidencebeyondtheDanube。Thekingwasvanquishedinbattle，andledawayprisoner；anumerouscolonyofcaptivesandsubjectswastransplantedintoItaly；andRome，afteralongperiodofdefeatanddisgrace，mightclaimthetriumphofherBarbarianmaster。^137
[Footnote133:TheconsularFastimaybefoundinPagiorMuratori。TheconsulsnamedbyOdoacer，orperhapsbytheRomansenate，appeartohavebeenacknowledgedintheEasternempire。]
[Footnote134:SidoniusApollinarisl。i。epist。9，p。22，edit。
Sirmondhascomparedthetwoleadingsenatorsofhistime，A。D。
468，GennadiusAvienusandCaecinaBasilius。Totheformerheassignsthespecious，tothelatterthesolid，virtuesofpublicandprivatelife。ABasiliusjunior，possiblyhisson，wasconsulintheyear480。]
[Footnote135:EpiphaniusintercededforthepeopleofPavia；andthekingfirstgrantedanindulgenceoffiveyears，andafterwardsrelievedthemfromtheoppressionofPelagius，thePraetorianpraefect，EnnodiusinVitSt。Epiphan。，inSirmond，Oper。tom。i。p。1670—1672。]
[Footnote136:SeeBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。483，No。10—
15。SixteenyearsafterwardstheirregularproceedingsofBasiliuswerecondemnedbyPopeSymmachusinaRomansynod。]
[Footnote137:ThewarsofOdoacerareconciselymentionedbyPaultheDeacon，deGest。Langobard。l。i。c。19，p。757，edit。
Grot。，andinthetwoChroniclesofCassiodorusandCuspinian。
ThelifeofSt。SeverinusbyEugippius，whichthecountdeBuatHist。desPeuples，&c。，tom。viii。c。1，4，8，9hasdiligentlystudied，illustratestheruinofNoricumandtheBavarianantiquities]
NotwithstandingtheprudenceandsuccessofOdoacer，hiskingdomexhibitedthesadprospectofmiseryanddesolation。
SincetheageofTiberius，thedecayofagriculturehadbeenfeltinItaly；anditwasajustsubjectofcomplaint，thatthelifeoftheRomanpeopledependedontheaccidentsofthewindsandwaves。^138Inthedivisionandthedeclineoftheempire，thetributaryharvestsofEgyptandAfricawerewithdrawn；thenumbersoftheinhabitantscontinuallydiminishedwiththemeansofsubsistence；andthecountrywasexhaustedbytheirretrievablelossesofwar，famine，^139andpestilence。St。
Ambrosehasdeploredtheruinofapopulousdistrict，whichhadbeenonceadornedwiththeflourishingcitiesofBologna，Modena，Regium，andPlacentia。^140PopeGelasiuswasasubjectofOdoacer；andheaffirms，withstrongexaggeration，thatinAemilia，Tuscany，andtheadjacentprovinces，thehumanspecieswasalmostextirpated。^141TheplebeiansofRome，whowerefedbythehandoftheirmaster，perishedordisappeared，assoonashisliberalitywassuppressed；thedeclineoftheartsreducedtheindustriousmechanictoidlenessandwant；andthesenators，whomightsupportwithpatiencetheruinoftheircountry，bewailedtheirprivatelossofwealthandluxury。Onethirdofthoseampleestates，towhichtheruinofItalyisoriginallyimputed，^142wasextortedfortheuseoftheconquerors。