Editing Avitus (section)

==Death==

Avitus' Gallic supporters may still have recognised him as emperor, despite his deposition. [[Sidonius Apollinaris]] tells of [[Marcellan conspiracy|a failed ''coup d'état'' in Gaul organised by one Marcellus]]<ref>Sidonius Apollinaris, ''Letters'', i.11.6.</ref> and probably aimed at bringing Avitus back to the throne.<ref name=mathisen>Mathisen.</ref> The contemporary historian [[Hydatius]], who lived in Spain, considered the year 457 the third of Avitus' reign;<ref>Hydatius, ''Chronicle'', 183.</ref> Avitus' own intentions are not known, nor are the manner and date of his death, of which there are several versions. In some, he was told that the [[Roman Senate]] had condemned him to death, and so he tried to flee to Gaul, officially travelling there to bring donations to the basilica of Saint Julian in [[Clermont-Ferrant|Avernia]], his homeland; according to [[Gregory of Tours]], he died during this journey.<ref>Gregory of Tours, ''Historia Francorum'', ii.11.</ref> Other sources have him strangled or starved to death, by order of his successor. Avitus died in 457, or late in 456, very soon after his deposition, and was buried at [[Brioude]], next to Saint Julian's tomb.<ref>For modern scholarly analyses and list of ancient and modern sources for the circumstances of Avitus' final year and death, see Ralph W. Mathisen, "The Third Regnal Year of Eparchius Avitus," ''Classical Philology,'' Vol. 80, No. 4 (Oct., 1985), pp. 326–335. For a response, and alternative interpretations of the same materials, see R. W. Burgess, "The Third Regnal Year of Eparchius Avitus: A Reply," ''Classical Philology'', Vol. 82, No. 4 (Oct., 1987), pp. 335–345.</ref>