The last Emperor of the Roman Empire is commonly recognized as Romulus Augustulus. He reigned from 475 to 476 AD in the Western Roman Empire, which was characterized by significant decline and instability. Romulus was a figurehead, effectively ruling under the influence of his father, Orestes, and the Germanic chieftain, Flavius Odoacer. His deposition by Odoacer in 476 AD is widely regarded as the end of the Western Roman Empire. While the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, continued to thrive, Rome's fall marked a significant turning point in European history and the beginning of the Middle Ages.