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The imperial authority was united in the person of the eastern emperor who sanctioned the rule of Odovacar by granting him the title of patrician, which had been held already by Aetius, Ricimer and Orestes.

Of the details of Odovacar's rule in Italy we know very little.

In any case Odovacar's government is evidently alluded to.

But it was only in Italy that Odovacar obtained recognition.

Accordingly when Theodoric demanded an imperial commission to attack Odovacar in Italy, Zeno readily granted him the desired authority in order to remove him to a greater distance from Constantinople.