Processed Magister militum (or Master of Soldiers) per emperor Petronius Maximus, Avitus was sent on the diplomatic mission to his old student, Theodoric II king of the Visigoths, and was at Theodoric's court inside Toulouse when Gaiseric invaded Rome, bringing Petronius Maximus's rule to a sudden prevent. Theodoric seized the chance & urged Avitus to consider a purple potty, & by having a eclat of a gathering of Gallo-Roman senators, allowed himself to be persuaded. In July 9, 455, he was proclaimed emperor per soldiers, & reached Rome that September.

A Italian world never fully accepted his rule, therefore whenever his campaign against a Vandals failed in 456, and it pressed their blockade against Rome, his position became tenuous. Famine inside Rome forced him to disband his Gothic bodyguard. However it required to exist as paid, & he did non improve his standing by using the Roman people after he melt a total of bronze statues to pay their great pay. Ricimer and Majorian exploited this discontent by starting the general insurrection.

Avitus fled to safety within Arles. a plea for aid to Theodoric went unreciprocated, when a Gothic king was away around Spain candidacy against the Suevians. Avitus raised a better inflict he can & returned to Italy. He was defeated touching Placentia, modern day Piacenza, and captured. His life was spared, & was allowed to get bishop of Placentia within October 17 or even Eighteen, 456; even so, he however despised for his life & attempted to escape to safety in Gaul. He died en route, by occasionally accounts murdered.

His grandson was a poet Avitus of Vienne.

de:Avitus fr:Eparchus Avitus nl:Avitus pl:Awitus