Zeno

During Zeno's reign, the Western Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed by Odoacer. Zeno recognized Odoacer as patrician but refused to recognize a new Western emperor, effectively accepting the end of the Western Roman Empire as a separate entity.

Zeno, who had been forced to flee Constantinople by the usurper Basiliscus, returned with an army of Isaurians and regained the throne. Basiliscus and his family were captured and executed, restoring Zeno's rule.

Emperor Zeno issued the Henotikon, an edict intended to reconcile the Chalcedonian and Miaphysite factions within the Christian church. The edict attempted to find a compromise but ultimately failed to heal the schism, alienating both sides and causing the Acacian Schism with the Papacy.

Zeno commissioned the Ostrogothic king Theodoric to invade Italy and overthrow the barbarian ruler Odoacer. This agreement removed a potential threat to the Eastern Empire and established Theodoric as the ruler of Italy, nominally as Zeno's viceroy.