Julius Nepos

Julius Nepos (474-475 CE) was the second last Roman Emperor in the West.
Some historians consider him to be the last Roman Emperor, as he continued to rule as Emperor in Dalmatia, after Romulus Augustus had been executed.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Flavius Julius Nepos
JULIUS NEPOS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- From June 474 CE to 28 August 475 CE.
- Co-Emperor with Zeno (Emperor) in the East.
JULIUS NEPOS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born c.430 CE. Died c.June 480 CE.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Place of birth unknown. Died in Split (Spalatum), Dalmatia.
JULIUS NEPOS’ PREDECESSOR:
- Glycerius
JULIUS NEPOS’ SUCCESSOR:
- Romulus Augustus
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- Leo I, the Eastern Emperor, proclaimed Julius Nepos Emperor in order to depose Glycerius.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Assassinated.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.
JULIUS NEPOS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- He was the second to last Emperor of the West.
- He is considered by some historians to have been the last Roman Emperor in the West, as he continued to rule as Emperor in Dalmatia after the death of Romulus Augustus.

- Julius Nepos was the Governor of Dalmatia. He was proclaimed Emperor by the Eastern Emperor, Leo I, and sent to Italia.
- In June 474 CE, Julius Nepos arrived in Portus, and on arrival in Rome, deposed Glycerius without any conflict.

- However, his Magister Militum, Orestes, then deposed Julius Nepos on 28 August 475 CE. Orestes then proclaimed his fifteen year old son, Romulus Augustus, Emperor.
- But Julius Nepos moved to Dalmatia where he continued to rule as Emperor for four years.
- Orestes ruled Italia through his son Romulus Augustus.
- On 4 September 476 CE, Odoacer, the Commander of the German Guards in Italia, captured Ravenna, killed Orestes and deposed Romulus Augustus.
- In c. June 480 CE, Julius Nepos was assassinated in Dalmatia.