<P> Though gone in modern times, the Roman Senate survived the initial collapse of the Western Roman Empire . Its authority even seems to have increased under the rule of Italy by Odoacer and later the Ostrogoths, evident by that the senate in 498 managed to install Symmachus as pope despite both Theodoric of Italy and emperor Anastasius supporting the other candidate, Laurentius . When exactly the senate disappeared is unclear, it is known that the institution remained into the sixth century as gifts from the senate were received by emperor Tiberius II in 578 and 580 in hope of aid against the invading Lombards . The traditional senate building, Curia Julia, was rebuilt into a church under pope Honorius I in 630, probably with permission from the eastern emperor Heraclius . </P> <P> Marcellinus Comes, a sixth century Eastern Roman historian and a courtier of Justinian I, mentions the Western Roman Empire at some points in his Chronicle, which primarily covers the Eastern Roman Empire from 379 to 534 . In the Chronicle, it is made clear that Marcellinus made a clear divide between East and West, with both mentions of a geographical east ("Oriens") and west ("Occidens") and an imperial east ("Orientale imperium" and "Orientale respublica") and an imperial west ("Occidentalie imperium", "Occidentale regnum", "Occidentalis respublica", "Hesperium regnum", "Hesperium imperium" and "principatum Occidentis"). Furthermore, Marcellinus specifically designates some emperors and consuls as being "Eastern", "Orientalibus principibus" and "Orientalium consulum" respectively . The term Hesperium Imperium, simply translating to "Western Empire", has sometimes been applied to the Western Roman Empire by modern historians as well . </P> <P> Though Marcellinus does not refer to the Empire as a whole after 395, only referring specifically to its separate halves, he clearly identifies the term "Roman" as applying to the Empire as a whole . When using terms such as "us", "our generals" and "our emperor", Marcellinus distinguished both divisions of the Empire from outside foes such as the Sasanian Persians and the Huns . This view is consistent with the knowledge that contemporary Romans of the fourth and fifth century continued to consider the Empire as a single unit, though more often than not with two rulers instead of one . Though it was the first time the position was divided geographically, the concept of there being more than one emperor at a time was not unprecedented even before Diocletian and the Tetrarchy with there having been several periods where there were more than one co-emperor, such as with Caracalla and Geta 210 - 211 AD . </P> <P> The positions of Eastern and Western Augustus, established under Emperor Diocletian in 286 as the Tetrarchy, had been abolished by Emperor Zeno in 480 following the loss of direct control over the western territories . Declaring himself the sole Augustus, Zeno only exercised true control over the largely intact Eastern Empire and over Italy as the nominal overlord of Odoacer . The reconquests under Justinian I would bring back large formerly Western Roman territories into Imperial control, and with them the Empire would begin to face the same problems it had faced under previous periods prior to the Tetrarchy when there had been only one ruler . Shortly after the reconquest of North Africa a usurper, Stotzas, had already risen from the province (though he was quickly defeated). As such, the idea of dividing the Empire into two courts out of administrative necessity would see a limited revival during the periods of time that the Eastern Empire still controlled large parts of the former West, both by courtiers in the East and enemies in the West . </P>

When did the roman empire split in two
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