The official fall of the Western Roman Empire came in 476 AD. This conclusive culmination came about when Romulus Augustulus, the final Roman emperor was overthrown by a Germanic tribe leader known as Odoacer. Odoacer did not think of the imperial throne. Instead, his declaration made him the ruler of Italy. This was the official end of the Western imperial descendants.
This was as a result of a long downfall. The empire was in a serious state because decades of intense military encroachment by invading tribes undermined it. Particularly, lack of effective governance occurred because of internal political turmoil and frequent civil conflicts. The economic wear also contributed to weakening the ability of the state to resist.
By the time (476 AD) the western empire had much more symbolic power. Actual power tended to lie in the hands of the barbarian commander of the army. The Western emperor did not have much real power. The last, absolute action that put an end to the imperial rule was done by Odoacer who demoted Romulus Augustulus.
After being deposed, Odoacer dispatched the imperial insignia of the Eastern Roman Emperor to Constantinople. This move depicted the fact that there was a lone emperor among the Romans. After this date no other Roman emperor reigned in the West. The political order of Western Empire disappeared.
Thus, the date 476 AD is considered to be the official date of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The coup by Odoacer ended once and for all the western emperors. At this juncture, the ancient Rome west imperial government came to an end permanently. The Eastern Empire went on their own way.
Conclusion:
The western Roman empire came to an historical end in 476 AD with the overthrow of Romulus Augustulus by Odoacer. This action ended forever the imperial line of the West. As the Eastern Empire lived, the West died. The fall was due to the continued raids by the military and internal political turmoil and economic bankruptcy. 476 AD is the accepted and universal date of fall of ancient Rome in the west as an imperial power.
