Eparchius Avitus
Eparchius Avitus was a prominent Roman figure born into a senatorial family in the Auvergne region of Gaul. He had a significant military and civil career, eventually serving as the praetorian prefect of Gaul in the late 430s CE. In 455 CE, following the murder of Emperor Petronius Maximus during the Vandals' sack of Rome, Avitus was proclaimed emperor with support from the Visigothic king Theoderic II. His reign began positively, marked by military victories against the Vandals and recognition by the Roman Senate. However, by the spring of 456 CE, Avitus faced challenges, including a food shortage in Rome, which led to a loss of support. His decision to dismiss his Gothic bodyguard left him vulnerable, culminating in a revolt led by generals Majorian and Ricimer. Avitus was ultimately defeated in October 456 CE and stripped of his title, forced into a position as bishop, and he died during an attempted return to Gaul in early 457 CE. His brief reign highlights the challenges of uniting Romans and barbarian forces during a time of fragmentation in the Western Roman Empire.
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Eparchius Avitus
Related civilization: Imperial Rome
Major role/position: General, administrator
Life
Eparchius Avitus (uh-PAHR-kee-uhs uh-VIT-uhs) was born into a senatorial family in the Auvergne in Gaul. He had a distinguished civil and military career, serving both as a general and, in the late 430’s c.e., as praetorian prefect of Gaul. In 455 c.e., he was appointed master of soldiers by the emperor Petronius Maximus. After Maximus’s murder during the Vandals’ sack of Rome in 455 c.e., Avitus was proclaimed emperor with the support of the Visigothic king Theoderic II (r. 453-466 c.e.). He was duly recognized by the senate of Rome and his reign commenced well enough. The Vandal raiding parties returned to Africa, and Theoderic was sent to Spain to fight the Suebi. On January 1, 456 c.e., Avitus entered the consulate, and his son-in-law Sidonius Apollinaris, a famous Latin writer, delivered a panegyric in his honor.
In the spring, Avitus sent the barbarian general Ricimer against the Vandals, who were defeated twice. Meanwhile, Avitus was blamed for a food shortage at Rome. To save money, he dismissed his Gothic bodyguard, which left him defenseless against a revolt led by the generals Majorian and Ricimer. In October, 456 c.e., he was decisively defeated at Piacenza. He was stripped of his imperial dignity and forcibly consecrated bishop of the city. In early 457 c.e., Avitus attempted to return to Gaul but died on the journey.
Influence
Avitus’s brief reign provided the last opportunity for creating a coalition between Romans and barbarians and revitalizing the Western Roman Empire. His failure indicates that the forces of fragmentation, such as the self-interest of Italian senators and barbarian generals and kings, were too strong.
Bibliography
Mathisen, Ralph W. “Avitus, Italy and the East in a.d. 455-456.” Byzantion 51 (1981): 232-247.
Mathisen, Ralph W. “The Third Regnal Year of Eparchius Avitus.” Classical Philology 80 (1985): 326-335.