I always found it fascinating that the last Western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, shared the same name as the founder of Rome (Romulus) and almost but not quite that of its greatest ruler (Augustus). Well, actually, he did!

The boy was the son of a general called Orestes, and was actually called Romulus Augustus. “Augustulus” (Little Augustus) is a derisive nickname that he received, probably from the barbarian mercenary commander who deposed him, Odoacer.

The whole coup against Little Augustus was nothing to write home about. Odoacer led his troops against Ravenna and, on September 4, 476, Romulus abdicated the throne and was allowed to move to Campania with relatives. The last Roman coup in Italy had been perhaps the least dramatic.

So why did this date become so relevant that many historians use the year 476 as the start of the Middle Ages? Now that is a pretty interesting question.