y polished,
his military skill was improved, and the confederates of Italy would not
have elected him for their general, unless the exploits of Odoacer had
established a high opinion of his courage and capacity. [122] Their
military acclamations saluted him with the title of king; but he
abstained, during his whole reign, from the use of the purple and
diadem, [123] lest he should offend those princes, whose subjects, by
their accidental mixture, had formed the victorious army, which time and
policy might insensibly unite into a great nation.

[Footnote 1191: Manso observes that the evidence which identifies
Edecon, the father of Odoacer, with the colleague of Orestes, is not
conclusive. Geschichte des Ost-Gothischen Reiches, p. 32. But St. Martin
inclines to agree with Gibbon, note, vi. 75.--M.]

[Footnote 120: Jornandes, c. 53, 54, p. 692-695. M. de Buat (Hist. des
Peuples de l'Europe, tom. viii. p. 221-228) has clearly explained the
origin and adventures of Odoacer. I am almost inclined to believe that
he was the same who pillaged Angers, and commanded a fleet of Saxon
pirates on the ocean. Greg. Turon. l. ii. c. 18, in tom. ii. p. 170.
8 Note: According to St. Martin there is no foundation for this
conjecture, vii 5--M.]

[Footnote 121: Vade ad Italiam, vade vilissimis nunc pellibus coopertis:
sed multis cito plurima largiturus. Anonym. Vales. p. 717. He quotes the
life of St. Severinus, which is extant, and contains much unknown and
valuable history; it was composed by his disciple Eugippius (A.D. 511)
thirty years after his death. See Tillemont, Mem. Eccles. tom. xvi. p.
168-181.]

[Footnote 122: Theophanes, who calls him a Goth, affirms, that he was
educated, aursed in Italy, (p. 102;) and as this strong expression will
not bear a literal interpretation, it must be explained by long service
in the Imperial guards.]

[Footnote 123: Nomen regis Odoacer assumpsit, cum tamen neque purpura
nee regalibus uteretur insignibus. Cassiodor. in Chron. A.D. 476. He
seems to have assumed the abstract title of a king, without applying it
to any particular nation or country. 8 Note: Manso observes that Odoacer
never called himself king of Italy, assume the purple, and no coins are
extant with his name. Gescnichte Osi Goth. Reiches, p. 36--M.]

Royalty was familiar to the Barbarians, and the submissive people of
Italy was prepared to obey, without a murmur, the authority which he
should condescend to exercise as the vicege