Editing Avitus (section)

==Rise to the throne==
[[File:Solidus Petronius Maximus-RIC 2201.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Petronius Maximus]], who obtained the throne at the death of [[Valentinian III]], recalled Avitus from his private life and sent him to ask for support to the Visigoths, but, at the death of Maximus, they acclaimed Avitus Emperor]]

In the late spring of 455, Avitus was recalled to service by emperor [[Petronius Maximus]] and was elevated to the rank of ''[[magister militum]]'', probably ''praesentalis''; Maximus sent Avitus in an embassy to the court of [[Theodoric II]], who had succeeded to his father, at [[Toulouse]]. This embassy probably confirmed the new king and his people as ''[[foederati]]'' of the Empire and asked for their support for the new Emperor.<ref>Petronius Maximus ascended to the throne on 17 March 455, after Emperor [[Valentinian III]] had been killed by a conspiracy in which Petronius was involved.</ref>

While Avitus was at Theodoric's court, news came of the death of Petronius Maximus (31 May) and of the [[sack of Rome (455)|sack of Rome]] by the [[Vandals]] of [[Gaiseric]]. Theodoric acclaimed Avitus Emperor in Toulouse; on 9 July,<ref>''[[Fasti vindobonenses priores]]'' record date about 10 July.</ref> the new Emperor was acclaimed by the Gallic chiefs gathered in Viernum,<ref>According to [[Sidonius Apollinaris]], vii.571–579, Avitus was crowned with a [[torc]], the typical Gallic neck ring with which [[Julian (Roman emperor)|Julian]] had also been crowned.</ref> near [[Arles|Arelate]] (Arles), and later, around 5 August, before Avitus reached Rome, he received the recognition of the [[Roman Senate]].<ref>''[[Fasti vindobonenses priores]]'', n. 575; [[Cassiodorus]], 1264.</ref>

Avitus stayed in Gaul for three months, to consolidate his power in the region that was the center of his support, and later went to Italy with a Gallic army, probably reinforced with a [[Goths|Gothic]] force. He probably travelled to [[Noricum]] to restore the imperial authority in that province, and then passed through [[Ravenna]], where he left a Gothic force under the new ''[[Patrikios|patricius]]'' and ''magister militum'' [[Remistus]], a Visigoth. On 21 September, finally, he entered Rome.<ref>''Auctarium Prosperi'', 7.</ref>