Zeno

Zeno was eastern Roman emperor for most of the period from 474 to 491. His reign faced usurpations, religious division and the end of western imperial rule; he recognised Odoacer’s position in Italy and later sent Theodoric the Ostrogoth west to challenge him.

Zeno also held the offices or ranks of Byzantine emperor and Roman consul. Zeno belonged to the House of Leo and operated within Byzantine Empire. Zeno was born in Zenopolis in Isauria and died in Constantinople.

In Gary Jennings’ Raptor, The novel incorporates the deposition of Romulus Augustulus, Odoacer’s rule in Italy and Emperor Zeno’s decision to direct Theodoric west. In Ross Laidlaw’s Theoderic, Shaped by his youth as a hostage at Constantinople, Theoderic becomes both an Ostrogothic war leader and a Roman imperial officer, moving through the shifting politics and battlefields of the Balkans before Emperor Zeno directs him against Odoacer in Italy.