Dromo's Den

[Up] [Dromo's Den]

Augustulus Biography

Augustulus Image

AUGUSTULUS, ROMULUS. The last Emperor of the western portion of the Roman Empire. His name was Augustus, but the diminutive title under which he is universally known was given him by the Romans on account of the essential pettiness of his character. He was the son of Orestes, a Pannonian of birth and wealth, who rose to high rank under the Emperor Julius Nepos, whose favor he repaid by stirring up the barbarian troops in the pay of Rome to mutiny against him. On the flight of the Emperor, Orestes conferred the vacant throne on his son, Augustulus (476 A.D.), retaining all substantial power in his own hands. Orestes, failing to conciliate the barbarians, who had helped him against Nepos, with a grant of the third of the lands of Italy, was besieged in Pavia by a large force under the command of Odoacer, and on the capture of the town was put to death. Augustulus yielded at once. Being of too little consequence to be put to death, he was dismissed to a villa near Naples, with an annual pension of 6000 gold solidi. His after fate is unknown.

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. II (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 372.