Pavia 476 A.D.

In the opening scene of the play 'Romulus,' a young Roman soldier staggers onto the stage. We soon learn that he has come from Pavia, a town in northern Italy. Indeed it was at Pavia in 476 AD that the reign of Romulus Augustulus (r. 475-476), the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire ended and Roman rule ceased in Italy. Many of the mercenary troops of the Roman Empire, under the command of Odoaker, rebelled against Orestes, a Roman general, father of Romulus, who was in control of the remnants of the Western Roman Empire. Pavia was burned and pillaged, and Orestes executed. Subsequently Odoaker and his army marched onto Ravenna, about 280 km away, which was then the capital city of the Western Roman empire.