Western Roman Empire

Western Roman Empire was an empire in Italy (Europe) that lasted from 395 to 476 CE, about 81 years. Its people spoke Latin and Romance languages (Latin, Italic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian).

The western half of the empire, run by weak emperors and Germanic generals while Goths, Vandals and Franks took its provinces. Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus in 476.

See Western Roman Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

395 to 476 CE

Duration

81 years

Type

Empire

Region

Italy, Europe

Language family

Latin and Romance

Capital

Milan, later Ravenna

Came from

• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE

Became

• Kingdom of Odoacer 476 to 493 CE

Events in Europe during its time

• 410 Visigoths sack Rome
• 476 End of the Western Roman Empire

Neighbours in Europe

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE
• Hunnic Empire c. 370 to 469 CE
• Roman Hispania 218 BCE to 472 CE
• Roman Gaul 50 BCE to 486 CE
• Roman Britain 43 to 410 CE
• Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse 418 to 507 CE
• San Marino c. 301 CE to the present
• Kingdom of Gwynedd c. 450 to 1216 CE
• Kingdom of Powys c. 450 to 1160 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Gupta Empire c. 320 to 550 CE, South Asia

Questions