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In the late 5th century, the ERE was under intense pressure. Religious turmoil between the monophysites and miaphysites, revolting generals such as Basiliscus, Marcian or Illus, desperate requests for aid by the western empire and the two main branches of the Ostrogoths, the Moesian Ostrogoths led by Theoderic the Amal and the Thracian Ostrogoths led by Theoderic Strabo, causing all sorts of trouble.

Emperor Zeno time and again played the two branches against each other, until 481, when Theoderic Strabo died, Theoderic the Alma took over the whole thing and then proceeded to invade Italy at the request of Zeno, becoming known as Theoderic the Great.

WI, in 480, wishing to rid himself of the troublesome Goths located at Constantinople's back door, Zeno does the following:

Instead of recognizing Odoacer as patrician and having him formally recognize Julius Nepos, Zeno sends Theoderic the Alma and his branch to Italy to defeat Odoacer and reinstall Nepos, all the while promising them land and titles in Italy.

Secondly, he sends Theoderic Strabo and his branch into northern Mesopotamia around the city of Nisibis, to act as a buffer towards the Sassanids, promising them the right to keep any persian land they conquer.

Could this work ? The Goths now have a much diminished presence in italy and could very well be assimilated, the office of western emperor lingers on (with defacto control in the hands of a barbarian magister militum as was often the case) and the Sassanids now have a powerful new threat to contend with.
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