Zeno (c.425–491) was emperor of the Eastern Empire 474–475 and 476–491, and sent the Ostrogoths under Theodoric to Italy to remove Odoacer, who had deposed the last emperor of the Western Empire.
In late Antiquity the north-east of the Italian peninsula suffered many invasions. The wars caused people to move to the safer lagoon areas, and hence to the foundation of Venice.