September 27th is the anniversary of Theoderic’s defeat of Odovacer at the Battle of Verona in 489:
Odovacer must have known for some time of Theoderic’s advance, and his sending of a victory legation to Zeno after his defeat of the Rugians in 487 implies a desire to conciliate him, while the acceptance in the East of Odovacer’s nominee as consul in 490 may indicate that his star had not set as far as Constantinople was concerned. He is described as having called forth all the nations against Theoderic, so many kings coming to fight with him that their soldiers could scarcely be supported. The identity of these kings is unknown, but any help they may have given was not evident when Theoderic appeared at the river Isonzo to the east of Aquileia on 28 August, for Odovacer, perhaps alarmed at the size of Theoderic’s forces, retreated, possibly before battle had been joined. He made his way to Verona where, on 27 September, he prepared a fortified camp. Verona was probably a predictable site, for, located as it was at the junction of the viae Claudia Augusta, Gallica, and Posthumia, it was a key centre for the defence of Italy, and was subsequently to become important to Theoderic for this reason. But Odovacer was quickly followed, and Ennodius describes Theoderic on the night before the battle looking at the fires of his enemies, which shone like stars. But he knew no fear, and the next morning, when his mother and sister, tossed between hope and fear, came to see him, he supplied reassurance: it was a true man (vir) to whom his mother had given birth, and on that day he was going to show himself a man; the glories won by his ancestors would not perish through him! He asked the women to bring his best clothes, such as would make him more easily recognized, and on a field b y the River Adige battle was joined. Both sides sustained heavy losses, but Odovacer was finally obliged to quit the field, leaving victory to Theoderic. The field was covered with bodies; some 18 years later Ennodius complained that hungry cattle were destroying evidence of the victory provided by the bones that still lay there. Odovacer fled, almost certainly to Ravenna. (John Moorhead, Theoderic in Italy, pp. 21-2)