Avitus

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Marcus Maecilius Flavius Eparchus Avitus
AVITUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- From 9 July 455 CE to 17 October 456 CE.
AVITUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born c. 380 CE. Died 457 CE.
P;ACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Clermont Ferrand. Died in Gaul.
AVITUS’ PREDECESSOR:
- Petronius Maximus
AVITUS’ SUCCESSOR:
- Majorian
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- He was proclaimed Emperor in Toulouse by Theodoric II, King of the Visigoths.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Died on a Pilgrimage in Gaul, en-route to the Basilica of Saint Julian.
- Possibly his death involved foul play by Majorian, as he was still recognised as Emperor by the Visigoths there.
WHERE BURIED:
- Brioude (Brivas) beside the tomb of St. Julian.
AVITUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- He held on to Sicily but lost Spain.

Avitus had a military career and became a senior commander under General Aetius. He also became close to the Kings of the Visigoths, Theodoric and his son Theodoric II, based in Toulouse. He retired in 440 CE to Clermont Ferrand.
In 451 CE he organised an alliance between Rome and the Visigoths to challenge Attila the Hun. Although Attila was defeated at the Battle of Chalons, King Theodoric was killed and his son became King.
In 455 CE, Petronius Maximus recalled Avitus to Rome, and promoted him to Magister Militum. He was then sent to Toulouse to request from King Theodoric II, that he send a Visigothic army to defend Italia from an invasion from the East.

However, whilst still in Toulouse, Geiseric the Vandal, performed the Second Sack of Rome on 2 June 455 CE.
On the 9th July, Theodoric II then proclaimed Avitus as Emperor of the West, but Avitus decided to consolidate his power before returning to Rome.
Then a meeting of the Gallic chiefs proclaimed him Emperor in Arles. By 5 August, the Roman Senate had also approved him as Emperor.
Avitus took a Gallic army with him to Italia, but went to Ravenna first, where he left a Gothic army under Renistus, his new Visigothic Magister Militum.
On 21 September, Avitus arrived in Rome.

In March 456 CE, the Vandals destroyed Capua. Avitus sent his General Ricimer to defend Sicily, in which he was successful.
On 5 October 456 CE, the last Roman Province in Spain, Hispania Tarraconensis fell to the Visigoths after they defeated a Suebi invasion there.
Rome now suffered from food shortages, having lost the Grain from North Africa, and there was no money in the Public Treasury. Avitus was forced to disband his Visigothic Imperial Guard, and pay them off by melting down public statues.

Sensing the lack of popular support in Rome, Ricimer, the Commander in Sicily rebelled, enlisting the help of Majorian, the senior Commander in Rome.
Ricimer ordered the Roman Senate to depose Avitus, and organised the assassination of Remistus, the senior Commander at Classe, the naval port of Ravenna.
Avitus then returned to Gaul and collected a Visigothic army.
17-18th October 456 CE, Avitus and his army met Ricimer and his army at Placenza, but was defeated, although Ricimer allowed him to live, oddly creating him Bishop of Placenza.

Either in 456 CE or 457 CE, Avitus died on a pilgrimage in Gaull, en-route to the Basilica of Saint Julian. Possibly his death involved foul play, as he was still recognised as Emperor by the Visigoths there.
He was buried next to the Tomb of Saint Julian in Brioude (Brivas).