The Burgundians had seized the opportunity to invade northwestern Italy while Odoacer and Theodoric the Great were locked in battle over control of Pavia in the early months of 490, devastating Liguria and carrying away an unknown number of victims into captivity, if not slavery.

Once Theodoric had killed Odoacer and was securely in control of Italy, he sent bishop Epiphanius of Pavia on a mission to ransom as many of these captives as possible.

Accompanied by Bishop Victor of Turin, they crossed the Alps in March.

Shanzer and Wood believe Epiphanius was possibly also entrusted with a mission in connection with the marriage of Gundobad's son Sigismund to Theodoric's daughter Ostrogotho.

In his account of this visit, Magnus Felix Ennodius, who accompanied Epiphanius on this journey, describes Godegisel as germanus regis the "king's brother" and not king—again contradicting Gregory of Tour's later account.

Ennodius notes that "more than six thousand souls" were so ransomed; from Lyon alone, four hundred men were thus freed.