Romulus Augustulus (461?-?), Roman emperor of the West (475-476). He was a usurper and was not recognized by Zeno, the Eastern Roman emperor. Romulus's father was the Roman general Orestes, who lived from 442 to 476, deposed Julius Nepos (474-475) and proclaimed Romulus emperor. Because of his youth, Romulus was called Augustulus rather than Augustus. Orestes ruled in his son's name for about a year, until the Germanic troops that had assisted him revolted under their leader Odoacer. Orestes was killed, but his son was spared and exiled to a villa near Naples. Odoacer was proclaimed king of Italy by his troops, and his accession marked the end of the Western Roman Empire.