12 moments

1. Siege of Rome with Ricimer

   0472-01-01 · Rome, Italy

   Odoacer fought with Ricimer’s force during the civil war against Emperor Anthemius, an early recorded appearance in Italy before he became ruler. The siege is dated March–July 472; the source does not provide a more precise date for Odoacer's individual presence.

2. Capture of Ravenna and deposition of Romulus Augustulus

   0476-09-04 · Ravenna, Italy

   

   Odoacer captured Ravenna and compelled Romulus Augustulus to abdicate, establishing himself as Italy’s ruler.

3. Dalmatian campaign after Julius Nepos's murder

   0480-01-01 · Dalmatia, Roman province (representative point near Salona, Croatia)

   

   After the murder of Julius Nepos, Odoacer entered Dalmatia, pursued the killers, and incorporated the province into his rule. The source dates the invasion after the 480 murder and says annexation was completed within two years; the exact campaign location and date are not specified. Coordinates are a regional representative point.

4. Victory over the Rugians in Noricum

   0487-01-01 · Noricum, Roman province (representative point near Mautern an der Donau, Austria)

   

   Odoacer personally led the campaign against the Rugians in Noricum and captured their king Feletheus. The campaign is dated 487/488 rather than to a single year; 487 is used as the beginning of the stated interval. Exact battlefield unknown; coordinates are representative.

5. Battle of the Isonzo

   0489-08-28 · Isonzo battlefield near Aquileia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

   Odoacer met Theodoric’s invading Ostrogoths on the Isonzo; the defeat began his retreat across northern Italy.

6. Fortified camp outside Verona

   0489-09-27 · Outskirts of Verona, Veneto, Italy

   

   Following defeat at the Isonzo, Odoacer reached Verona’s outskirts and established a fortified camp before another defeat there. The precise location of the fortified camp is not identified; coordinates represent Verona.

7. Retreat to Ravenna after Verona

   0489-10-01 · Ravenna, Italy

   

   After the defeats at Isonzo and Verona, Odoacer withdrew to his fortified capital of Ravenna.

8. Battle of Faenza

   0490-01-01 · Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

   Odoacer defeated Theodoric at Faenza after receiving reinforcements from southern Italy, briefly recovering the initiative in the war. No more precise date is supplied.

9. Pursuit to Pavia

   0490-01-01 · Pavia, Lombardy, Italy

   

   After his victory at Faenza, Odoacer pursued Theodoric to Pavia, before suffering defeat at the Adda on 11 August. The pursuit is dated only to 490, before 11 August.

10. Siege in Ravenna

    0490-01-01 · Ravenna, Italy

    

    After the Adda defeat, Odoacer endured Theodoric’s siege inside Ravenna, a struggle that continued until the negotiated surrender of March 493. The siege began in late 490 and lasted until 5 March 493; 490 records its beginning.

11. Battle of the Adda River

    0490-08-11 · Adda River near Cassano d'Adda, Lombardy, Italy

    Odoacer commanded the Herulian and Scirian army against Theodoric and Visigothic allies at the Adda, where he was defeated and driven back toward Ravenna. Coordinates are a representative point on the Adda near the traditionally cited battle area; the exact battlefield is uncertain.

12. Murder at the Palace of Honorius

    0493-03-15 · Palace of Honorius "Ad Laurentum", Ravenna, Italy

    

    Following the surrender of Ravenna, Theodoric killed Odoacer during a shared meal in the Palace of Honorius, ending his rule of Italy. The same source identifies the setting as the imperial palace of Honorius "Ad Laurentum" in Ravenna; its exact archaeological location is uncertain, so coordinates represent central Ravenna.