“ ODOACER, king of Italy, put to death A. D. 493. He was the son of Edecon, a minister of Attila and chief of a tribe of Scyrri. Having led a roving life in Pannonia and Noricum, Odoacer went to Italy, entered the service of the western empire, and speedily rose to high command. After the abdication of Nepos and the elevation to the imperial throne of Romulus, called in derision Augustulus, the Heruli and other barbarian mercenaries demanded as a reward for their services a third part of the lands of Italy. ”