(), regent of Italy during the short reign of his
infant son Romulus Augustulus, from the 29th of August, A. D. 475, to
the 28th of August, 476. As his history is given in the lives of Romulus Augustulus, Nepos,
and Odoacer, we need only add here a few remarks. He was a Roman by origin, but born in
Pannonia, and when Attila conquered that province, he and his father Tatulus both entered the
service of the conqueror till the death of the latter and the downfal of the Hunnic empire.
Orestes held the office of secretary to Attila, and was also his ambassador at
Constantinople. After the death of Attila, Orestes returned to Italy, where on account of his
great wealth, he soon rose to eminence, and obtained the title and rank of patricius. He then
married a daughter of Romulus Comes. In 475, while at Rome, he received orders from the
emperor Julius Nepos to assemble an army and send it to Gaul, as fears were entertained that
the West Gothic king Eurie intended another invasion of that country. Being once at the head
of an army, Orestes availed himself of his power and riches to make himself master of Italy,
and forthwith set out for Ravenna, where Nepos was residing. On his approach Nepos fled in
confusion (28th of August, 475) to Salona in Dalmatia, where he met with the deposed emperor
Glycerius, his former rival, who was then bishop of that place; and on the 29th of August
Orestes had his son Romulus Augustulus proclaimed emperor, remaining, however, at the head of
affairs. His first minister was Parmenus. He sent Latinus and Madusus to Constantinople, that
he might be recognised by the emperor Zeno; aud he made peace with Genseric, the king of the
Vandals. The reign of Orestes was of short duration. In the following year (476) Odoacer rose
in arms against him, and Orestes having shut himself up in Pavia, was taken prisoner after the
town had been stormed by the barbarians, and conducted to Placentia where his head was cut off
by order of Odoacer. This took place on the 28th of August, 476, exactly a year after he had
compelled Nepos to fly from Ravenna. On the 4th of September Paulus, the brother of Orestes,
was taken at Ravenna, and likewise put to death. (The authorities quoted in the lives of ROMULUSAUGUSTULUS,GLYCERIUS, JULIUSNEPOS, land ODOACER.)