How Ostrogoths Created a Kingdom in Italy From the Ashes of Roman Civilization

Following the collapse of Roman authority, the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy was established, initiated by Odoacer's overthrow of the last Western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, in 476. Odoacer acknowledged Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno and preserved Roman governance. Theodoric, born in AD 454, ascended to kingship in 474 after spending his youth as a hostage in Constantinople. In AD 488, Zeno permitted Theodoric to invade Italy. The Ostrogoths triumphed over Odoacer at Isonzo on August 28, 489, and again at Verona. Odoacer capitulated on March 5, AD 493, only to be killed by Theodoric. Theodoric's reign lasted until his death in AD 526, after which his grandson Athalaric and regent Amalasuntha took over, the latter being murdered, leading to the Byzantine-Gothic war, which concluded in AD 554.