WI Emperor Zeno pressed the Roman Senate to accept Julius Nepos as Western Emperor?

Because Romulus Augustulus was an usurper, Julius Nepos legally held the title of emperor when Odoacer took power on 476. Some have argued that Nepos, who ruled in Dalmatia until his murder in 480, should be recognized as the last Western Roman Emperor, noting that Odoacer struck coins in Nepos' name and did not take the imperial title for himself. But few of Nepos' contemporaries in Italy (Dalmatia and Gaul had been always loyal to Nepos) were willing to support his cause after he fled this province. Following Odoacer's coup, the Roman Senate sent a letter to Zeno, saying that "the majesty of a sole monarch is sufficient to pervade and protect, at the same time, both the East and the West." While Zeno told the Senate that Nepos was their lawful sovereign, he did not press the point.
WI Zeno pressed the Senate to accept Nepos as their Emperor once more and sent troops to impose him and kick Odoacer out? Is this possible? How is a potential war between Zeno and Odoacer altering History? Any thoughts?
 
Was this not the reason that Zeno persuaded the Ostrogothic King Theodoric to invade Italy? He wanted either a puppet or "ally" to be in charge of Rome.
 
Was this not the reason that Zeno persuaded the Ostrogothic King Theodoric to invade Italy? He wanted either a puppet or "ally" to be in charge of Rome.

Actually Nepos would be in debt then to Emperor Zeno for reinstating him and he would act as his "viceroy" in the West instead of Odoacer... A short of blackmail from Zeno... "I made u emperor with my troops so u ll do as i say... or else i can take my army and leave..."
 
Zeno didn't want to face another Roman in Italy though. Once Odocer sent the regalia to Constantinople Zeno became THE Roman Emperor, with no other rivals for the purple. Technically the Empire was reunited, since Odocer was legally Zeno's regent in Italy, to be replaced by regent #2 Theodoric some years later. I think the Emperors in Constantinople liked to deal with Germanics rather than other Romans in the West, because the relationship always, legally, put the Emperors in the superior position.

This is doubly true dealing with men like Odocer and Theodoric, since not only were they Germanics, they were also heretical Arians. So they couldn't even rally the western populace on the basis of religion, being already alien to them because of nationality (Roman vs Germanic).
 
If i recall correctly on 477 AD Gauls rebelled against Odoacer and in favour of Zeno... Wouldnt this be a good pretext for Zeno to isolate and defeat Odoacer in Italy?
 
One thing I wondered about was how long Nepos could keep the status quo going after 476. If he hadn't gotten too ambitious and gotten himself killed, could he possibly have hung on to his title?
 
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