Avitus

Avitus - Roman emperor in 455-456 years. + 456 g. Avitus came from a wealthy family Gallic. More than thirty years he spent at the Roman Civil Service. Sidonius wrote that he emerged, carrying out diplomatic missions for the responsible commander Aetius, and then was elevated to the rank of praetorian prefect of Gaul. Then, having escaped all cases for some time he lived in his villa in the vicinity of Clermont. Emperor appointed Maxim Avita principal chief of the cavalry and infantry in Gaul. In the short time he managed to stop the devastating raids of the barbarians. In order to enlist the support Visigothic King Theodoric, he in May 455 g. went to Toulouse. Here he caught the news of the death of Maxim and the devastation of Rome by vandals.

Avitus burning with a desire to seize the throne. Theodoric agreed to help him in this enterprise, and July 10 in Arleate at a meeting of representatives of seven of the Gallic Provinces Avitus was proclaimed Emperor. However, neither the Roman Senate, nor the Romans themselves did not approve of this choice. Yielding to their urgent requests, the emperor is not settled in Ravenna, and in Rome, but that their hatred and contempt for him has not diminished. Some senators entered into secret negotiations with the commander Retsimerom, Svevo descent, in whom Avitus laid the Italian Defense. In 456 g. Retsimer revolted. After a brief and unsuccessful resistance Avitus abdicated. Retsimer allowed him to become a bishop in Platsentsii, but the Senate demanded the death of the deposed emperor (Gibbon: 36). Avitus tried to take refuge in Gaul, but died on the way from the pestilence (Evagrius: 2, 7).