Nepos' rule only lasted a year due to the actions of General Orestes.
Orestes was appointed Patrician by Nepos himself with the aim of clearing up the mess in Italy.
But, Orestes, who had previously played the role of ambassador to Attila after Flavius Aetius handed over the province of Pannonia to the Huns, turned his Barbarian troops on Nepos instead.
As a result, on the 28 August 475, Nepos left Ravenna and sailed back to Dalmatia thus abandoning the Roman West for a while.
On 31 October AD 475, Orestes appointed his son the new Western Roman Emperor with the regnal name "Romulus Augustus" but it was Orestes and his brother Paul who were the real eminences grises.
Romulus had never been recognised in Constantinople with the western emperor still alive and well.

Romulus's reign also did not last long.
The reliance on bands of barbarian federates by the government instead of their own regular regiments caused problems for Orestes.
In 476, these federal tribes demanded that they be given a third of the land, much like the federal tribes in Gaul.
Orestes refused their demand which caused the federal tribes to rebel and to appoint a Scirian officer named Odoacer as their king.
There is some debate about the position of Odoacer with modern scholars describing him as being part of the Roman military establishment.
This is based on John of Antioch's statement that Odoacer was on the side of Ricimer at the beginning of his battle with the emperor Anthemius in 472.
Similarly, Procopius describes him as one of the Emperor's bodyguards.
Moreover, Odoacer is described as Nepos' Count of Domestics by historian Peter Heather.

Nevertheless, Odoacer tried to set up another short-lived regime in August AD 476.
He captured and killed Orestes and his brother Paul in Piacenza but Romulus still technically remained as the Western Emperor.
Odoacer had no interest in preserving the position of this notional ruler who controlled nothing beyond the Italian peninsula.
So, Odoacer sent an embassy to Zeno proposing that he assume sovereignty over Italy as the sole Roman emperor but that Odoacer would control the administration.
Nepos never returned to Italy, although not through lack of trying.
While Zeno was considering the proposition from Odoacer, he received an embassy from Nepos asking for his assistance in reclaiming the throne.
Zeno had little interest in western affairs and had no intention of sparing money and men upon Nepos' behalf.
Yet he could not overtly disavow Nepos, especially due to the relation between Nepos and the empress mother Verina.
Therefore, Zeno unfolded a two-sided plan.
The first side was to lecture the senators for having killed and expelled the two emperors they had sent and urge them to take Nepos back.
On the other side Zeno told Odoacer's personal representatives that Odoacer ought to seek his appointment from Nepos.
He praised Odoacer for the good beginning he had made in preserving the authority of Rome and addressed Odoacer as Patrician who should acknowledge Nepos's de jure Imperial status.
Zeno then replied to Nepos that the western Empire was over.

Following this reply, Odoacer quickly deposed Romulus and, in consideration of his youth, sent him away to an estate in Campania with a pension of 6,000 solidi a year.
Odoacer then declared himself King and adopted the title of rex, an action that many previous military commanders had done previously.
He reigned as an increasingly independent King of Italy, nominally recognising the suzerainty of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Nepos attempted a campaign to restore his authority in 479/480.
Theodoric offered to lead his Ostrogoths into Dalmatia and fight for Nepos' cause.
Nepos' rule only lasted a year due to the actions of General Orestes. Orestes was appointed Patrician by Nepos himself with the aim of clearing up the mess in Italy. But, Orestes, who had previously played the role of ambassador to Attila after Flavius Aetius handed over the province of Pannonia to the Huns, turned his Barbarian troops on Nepos instead. As a result, on the 28 August 475, Nepos left Ravenna and sailed back to Dalmatia thus abandoning the Roman West for a while. On 31 October AD 475, Orestes appointed his son the new Western Roman Emperor with the regnal name "Romulus Augustus" but it was Orestes and his brother Paul who were the real eminences grises. Romulus had never been recognised in Constantinople with the western emperor still alive and well.
Romulus's reign also did not last long. The reliance on bands of barbarian federates by the government instead of their own regular regiments caused problems for Orestes. In 476, these federal tribes demanded that they be given a third of the land, much like the federal tribes in Gaul. Orestes refused their demand which caused the federal tribes to rebel and to appoint a Scirian officer named Odoacer as their king. There is some debate about the position of Odoacer with modern scholars describing him as being part of the Roman military establishment. This is based on John of Antioch's statement that Odoacer was on the side of Ricimer at the beginning of his battle with the emperor Anthemius in 472. Similarly, Procopius describes him as one of the Emperor's bodyguards. Moreover, Odoacer is described as Nepos' Count of Domestics by historian Peter Heather.
Nevertheless, Odoacer tried to set up another short-lived regime in August AD 476. He captured and killed Orestes and his brother Paul in Piacenza but Romulus still technically remained as the Western Emperor. Odoacer had no interest in preserving the position of this notional ruler who controlled nothing beyond the Italian peninsula. So, Odoacer sent an embassy to Zeno proposing that he assume sovereignty over Italy as the sole Roman emperor but that Odoacer would control the administration. Nepos never returned to Italy, although not through lack of trying. While Zeno was considering the proposition from Odoacer, he received an embassy from Nepos asking for his assistance in reclaiming the throne. Zeno had little interest in western affairs and had no intention of sparing money and men upon Nepos' behalf. Yet he could not overtly disavow Nepos, especially due to the relation between Nepos and the empress mother Verina. Therefore, Zeno unfolded a two-sided plan. The first side was to lecture the senators for having killed and expelled the two emperors they had sent and urge them to take Nepos back. On the other side Zeno told Odoacer's personal representatives that Odoacer ought to seek his appointment from Nepos. He praised Odoacer for the good beginning he had made in preserving the authority of Rome and addressed Odoacer as Patrician who should acknowledge Nepos's de jure Imperial status. Zeno then replied to Nepos that the western Empire was over.
Following this reply, Odoacer quickly deposed Romulus and, in consideration of his youth, sent him away to an estate in Campania with a pension of 6,000 solidi a year. Odoacer then declared himself King and adopted the title of rex, an action that many previous military commanders had done previously. He reigned as an increasingly independent King of Italy, nominally recognising the suzerainty of the Eastern Roman Empire. Nepos attempted a campaign to restore his authority in 479/480. Theodoric offered to lead his Ostrogoths into Dalmatia and fight for Nepos' cause.
Julius Nepos