In 401 ACE, Emperor Honorius moved the capital of the Western Roman Empire to Ravenna. In the 5th century his half-sister, Galla Placidia, built her own mausoleum in that town.

In 476 Ravenna fell to Odoacer who was the first Germanic king of Italy. He was overthrown by Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths. Theodoric made Ravenna his capital in 493. Only 11 years later, in 504 Theodoric decided to build his own palace church, a three-aisled basilica dedicated to a local saint called Apollinaris.

Before his death, Theodoric erected his mausoleum just outside Ravenna. It was built in 520 ACE.