I think people really overestimate the value of references; sure, it's good to have someone, especially a superior, recommend you and your work, but anyone with half a brain will know that they're super unreliable since they speak more about your relationship to that person than about your real, absolute value to the company.

What does prove that value is actual evidence of how you contributed to the prosperity of that place. Think about what went right, what improved, what problems were avoided thanks to you, and how things might have changed from before you got there and after you were forcibly demoted.

And try to view things from the perspective of the employer, they want someone professional and dependable, but they can hopefully understand that no employee will be dependable if you treat them like shit. Having said that, do try to think about how the discussion will go when they suspect you of being flaky because you up and left when things got less than comfortable.