Julius Nepos

Who was Julius Nepos?

Julius Nepos was Western Roman Emperor de facto from 474 to 475 and de jure until 480. He was also the ruler of Roman Dalmatia from 468 to 480. Some historians consider Nepos to be the last Western Roman Emperor, while others consider the western line to have ended with Romulus Augustulus in 476.

In contrast, the Eastern Roman Empire and its line of Emperors survived this period of history relatively intact.

Julius Nepos, already in control of a semi-autonomous Dalmatia, was appointed Western Roman Emperor in early 474 by the Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I; in an effort to replace the western emperor Glycerius, who was regarded as an usurper. His agnomen of "Nepos" was probably earned through a marriage to Leo's wife's niece; this relationship likely also played a significant part in his selection for the western throne.

In June 474, shortly after Nepos' arrival in Italy, Glycerius surrendered. Nepos spared his life and appointed him bishop of Salona. After this, Nepos ruled briefly over the whole of the remaining Western Roman Empire, centered in Italy, still the Empire's heartland, and including his native Dalmatia and the remaining parts of Roman Gaul. Nepos' rule in Italy ended in 475, when he was deposed by his magister militum, Orestes. Fleeing from Italy and Orestes without opposition, Nepos returned to Dalmatia, over which he retained control.