In 457 Majorian deprived Avitus of the empire and seized the city of Lyons; Sidonius fell into his hands.
When the Goths captured Clermont in 474 he was imprisoned, as he had taken an active part in its defense; but he was afterwards released from captivity by Euric, king of the Goths, and continued to shepherd his flock as he had done before; he did so until his death.