Avitus decides to react. He first chooses…

Avitus decides to react.

He first chooses Messianus, one of his collaborators in his embassy to the Visigoths ordered by Petronius Maximus, as the new magister militum; he probably then goes to Gaul (Hydatius says to Arelate) to collect all the available forces, probably the Visigoth guard he had just disbanded; finally he leads his forces against the troops of Ricimer, near Piacenza.

The Emperor and his army enter the city and attack the huge army led by Ricimer, but on October 17 or 18, 456, after a great massacre of his men, including Messianus, Avitus flees.

Ricimer spares his life in the immediate aftermath, but forces him to become Bishop of Piacenza.

He may have died while attempting to return to Gaul.