History glossary
Western Roman Empire
the western half of the Roman Empire, centered on Italy and western Europe, whose last emperor was deposed in 476 CE.
- Category
- Empire
- Region
- Western Europe and the western Mediterranean
- Date range
- late 3rd century-476 CE
What it means
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman imperial system after power was increasingly divided between western and eastern courts. It ruled parts of Italy, Gaul, Hispania, Britain, North Africa, and the western Mediterranean, though its territory shrank under military, political, and financial pressure. Its last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed in 476 CE, a date often used to mark the end of ancient Rome in the West.
Related terms
Stories using this term
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