126 Radtki
on economic issues.28 What can be said in any case is that all aristocrats living
under Odovacer and the Ostrogothic kings collaborated with their barbarian
masters to their own profit.
The Senate under Odovacer
It is in the context of the interplay between the prestige of the senatorial elite
and the legitimization of rule in Italy that Odovacer and Theoderic’s behav-
iours must be understood. Both rulers used the senatorial elite to negotiate
the legitimacy of their respective positions with the eastern Roman emperor.
The period of Odovacer’s reign can be seen as a peak in the courting of the
Senate and its members—a development that had started in the years of cri-
sis in the mid 5th century in the western half of the empire. Odovacer’s first
official act was to dispatch a senatorial embassy to the emperor Zeno asking
for the title patricius and for his acceptance as ruler of the prefecture of Italy.29
Odovacer’s unclear legal position played a crucial role because it demanded
a multilayered legitimization on the part of the domestic elites, the deposed
emperor Nepos, and the eastern Roman emperor. His first step was to seek
the support of the local elites and the senators, many of whom were willing
to represent Odovacer’s interests in Constantinople from the very beginning.
Following a description given by Malchus, in the year 476 a delegation made
up of senators and several of Odovacer’s confidants reached the imperial court
and announced that there was no need for a western emperor and that they
had chosen Odovacer as their guardian instead. They requested that Zeno
confirm their election by bestowing on Odovacer the honour of the patri-
ciate and conferring on him the leadership of the prefecture of Italy.30 The
Senate thus functioned as a legitimate messenger for the announcement of
a usurper.31 The senatorial elite came to terms with Odovacer quite quickly
in exchange for a liberal disposition in the distribution of high administra-
tive offices. Furthermore, Odovacer honoured the Senate and its tradition.
28 See especially Schäfer, Der weströmische Senat, pp. 141ff.; Chastagnol, La préfecture urba-
ine, pp. 187ff.
29 For details with regard to Odovacer’s person and career see Henning, Periclitans,
pp. 58ff. Zeno effectively accepted Odovacer, but directed him to Nepos to gain the title;
see Malchus, FHG (Fragmente der griechischen Historiker) 4, p. 119, frag. 10 = frag. 14, ed.
Blockley. Bulgarella, “Il senato”, p. 126 notes: “La decadenza dell’lmpero d’Occidente
emanava, almeno formalmente, da un voto del Senato di Roma, contrario a ripristinarne
la parvenza sotto un fantoccio d’imperatore”.
30 Malchus, frag. 14, ed. Blockley; Henning, Periclitans, pp. 60f.
31 For the several phases of legitimization see Henning, Periclitans, pp. 60ff.