Editing 493 (section)

==== Europe ====
* [[February 25]] &ndash; [[Odoacer]] surrenders [[Ravenna]] after a 3-year [[siege]], and agrees to a mediated peace with [[Theodoric the Great]], who steadily consolidates his rule and provides security for the local population. His achievement is to manage the transformation of [[Italy]] from being the center of a fractured [[Roman Empire]] to a successful and independent [[Ostrogothic Kingdom]].<ref>The End of Empire (p. 275). Christopher Kelly, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-393-33849-2}}</ref> 
* [[Onoulphus]], brother of Odoacer, is killed during the siege of Ravenna by [[Archery|archer]]s while seeking refuge in a church. 
* [[March 15]] &ndash; Odoacer is invited to a [[banquet]] organised in order to celebrate the [[peace treaty]]. During the festivities, Odoacer is killed by Theodoric the Great. His body is skillfully sliced in half in full view of his guests. A massacre of Odoacer's soldiers and supporters follows.
* Theodoric the Great allies with the [[Franks]] and marries [[Audofleda]], sister of [[Clovis I]]. He also marries his own female relatives to princes or kings of the [[Burgundians]], [[Vandals]] and [[Visigoths]], establishing a political alliance with the [[Germans|Germanic]] kingdoms in the West.
* Clovis I marries the Burgundian princess [[Clotilde]], age 18; she is brought up in the [[Catholicism|Catholic]] faith and is the daughter of King [[Chilperic II of Burgundy|Chilperic II]]. Her father is murdered in the same year by his brother [[Gundobad]].