To what extent Odoacer is a military…

To what extent Odoacer is a military commander of a Roman army and how much a German “tribal” leader is by now impossible to tell.

After the abdication of Romulus, the Roman Senate, on behalf of Odoacer, sends representatives to the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno, whom it asks to formally reunite the two halves of the Empire.

He is also asked to make Odoacer a Patrician, and administrator of Italy in Zeno's name.

Zeno points out that the Senate should rightfully have first requested that Julius Nepos take the throne once more, but he nonetheless agrees to their requests.

Odoacer now rules Italy in Zeno's name.

Unlike most of the last emperors, he acts decisively, taking many military actions to strengthen his control over Italy and its neighboring areas.

According to Jordanes, at the beginning of his reign he "slew Count Bracila at Ravenna that he might inspire a fear of himself among the Romans."