When did the Roman Empire fall (your thoughts)?

[starman2012]

my bet is that if you asked a citizen in southern Gaul, Spain or Italy, what they thought of the Fall of the (western) Empire, chances are you would get a blank stare, because no-one had realised that this had happened,

"Since the Roman state is now either dead or at the very least dying in those areas where it still seems alive."

--Salvian mid fifth century. He was in southern Gaul btw.