A decline in resources made it difficult to pay for an army strong enough to defeat the barbarians. Most of the power is now in the hands of the Vandals, Goths, Burgundians, Franks of Gaul, and Suevi. Knowing this the emperor had to make a military alliance with the barbarians. Treaties were created with the Goths and Vandals making the the primary possessors of their territories and partners for governing the west.
By 476 A.D. the military and financial resources of the central government in Italy could not maintain itself or invaders. As time continues the Romans and barbarians differences as people were now dissolving. Odovacar, a successful general in the Roman army with origins from a Germanic tribe built up a loyal power base of landowners and soldiers in Italy. He also became the effective ruler of Italy, and proclaimed himself King. The Western Roman Empire ended in 476, while the Eastern Roman Empire continued until it had been taken over by the Moslem Turks in 1453