Odo (Bayeux) of Bayeux
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Eudes (Bayeux) of Bayeux (abt. 1030 - 1097)

Bishop Eudes (Odo) "Bishop of Bayeux, Earl of Kent" of Bayeux formerly Bayeux
Born about [location unknown]
Ancestors ancestors
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at about age 67 [location unknown]
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Profile last modified | Created 29 Jun 2014
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European Aristocracy
Bishop Odo Bayeux was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Contents

Odo, Bishop of Bayeux

Around the age of sixteen Odo, sometimes written Eudes, was made "'Bishop of Bayeaux"' by his half-brother William the Conqueror, in 1049/50.[1] [2][3][4]
Tom Lovell depicts Odo, wielding a club, at the Battle of Hastings. (scene based on tapestry scene below)
Although best known as an aggressive warrior, statesman and land-grabber, he is also remember for his role in the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry, commemorating the Battle of Hastings, in which he actively participated.[1]

Genealogy

Keats-Rohan has an entry for him titled "Odo Episcopus Baiocensis" (Odo Bishop of Bayeux). It mentions:[5]

  • "Son of Herluim de Conteville and Herlève, half-brother of William the Conqueror and full brother of Robert, count of Mortain."
  • "Father of at least one natural son, John. See D Bates, "Odo of Bayeux", Speculum 50 (1970); idem, "Notes sur l'aristocracie normande. ii Herluin de Conteville et sa famille", Annales de Normandie 23 (1973); idem "Le patronage clerical et intellectuel de l'évêque Odon de bayeux 1049/50-1097", in Chapitres et Cathédrales en Normandie, Annales de Normandie, série des Congrès de Sociétés Historiques et Archéologiques de Normandie, vol. 2 (1997)."

Bayeux Tapestry

According to Kleiner, the Bayeux Tapestry is about, "20 inches high and about 230 feet long." The art historian describes the work as, "a continuous, friezelike, pictorial narrative of," the Battle of Hastings, and the, "the events that led up to it."[1]
The embroidery in the tapestry is thought to, "have been sewn by women at the Norman court," but many art historians, think it's, "the work of English stitchers in Kent, where Odo was earl after the Norman conquest."
Bayeux Tapestry
"Illustrated here are two episodes of the epic tale as represented in the Bayeux Tapestry. The first detail (top) depicts King Edward’s funeral procession. The hand of God points the way to the church in London where he was buried — Westminster Abbey, consecrated December 28, 1065, just a few days before Edward’s death. The church was one of the first Romanesque buildings erected in England, and the embroiderers took pains to record its main features, including the imposing crossing tower and the long nave with tribunes. Here William was crowned king of England on Christmas Day, 1066. (The coronation of every English monarch since then also has occurred in Westminster Abbey.) The second detail (bottom) shows the Battle of Hastings in progress. The Norman cavalry cuts down the English defenders. The lower border is filled with the dead and wounded, although the upper register continues the animal motifs of the rest of the embroidery." ~ Kleiner (2011).[1]
Unfortunately, the tapestry did not stay in England, since Odo donated it to Bayeux Cathedral.[6] "Whether it was originally intended for display in the church's nave," is not known, but the spot makes a "curious choice" for this theme.[1]

Odo, depicted in the tapestry, wielding a club:

The battle rages on; men and horses crash to the ground, the lower border is strewn with slaughtered troops and animals. Bishop Odo appears in the thick of the fighting waving a club and encouraging his followers. Odo uses a club rather than a sword as bishops were not supposed to shed blood.

The First Crusade

The History of the Crusades, by, Joseph Fr. Michaud, William Robson, and Hamilton W Mabie

"The men of the Vermandois marched with the subjects of Philip under the colours of their count Hugh, a young prince whose brilliant qualities had been much admired by the court."

"Robert, surnamed Courte-heuse, duke of Normandy, who led his vassals to the holy war, was the eldest son of William the Conqueror."

"Another Robert, count of Flanders, placed himself at the head of the Frisons and the Flemings."

"Stephen, count of Blois and Chartres, had also taken up the cross."

"These four chiefs were accompanied by a crowd of knights and nobles, among whom history names Robert of Paris, Evrard of Prusaiè, Achard de Montmerle, Isouard de Muson, Stephen, count d'Albermarle, Walter de St. Valery, Roger de Barneville, Fergant and Conan, two illustrious Bretons, Guis de Trusselle, Miles de Braiës, Raoul de Baugency, Rotrou, son of the count de Perche; Odo, bishop of Bayeux, uncle of the duke of Normandy; Raoul de Gader, Yve and Albéric, sons of Hugh de Grandménil. The greater part of the counts and barons took with them their wives and children, and all their war equipages. They crossed the Alps, and directed their march towards the cities of Italy, with the intention of embarking for Greece. They found in the neighbourhood of Lucca Pope Urban, who gave them his benediction, praised their zeal, and offered up prayers for the success of their enterprize. The count de Vermandois, after having received the standard of the Church from the hands of the sovereign pontiff, repaired to Rome, with the other princes, to visit the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul."

"The passage of the French Crusaders, however, had awakened the zeal of the Italians. Bohemond, prince of Tarentum, was the first who resolved to associate himself with their fortunes, and to partake of the glory of the holy expedition."[7]

The First Crusade; The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and Participants

"When the Crusade was preached, Arnulf joined the expedition in the band of Robert of Normandy. His position was that of chaplain to Odo, Archbishop of Bayeux, the fiery brother of the Conqueror. Upon Odo's death early in the march, Arnulf virtually succeeded the Archbishop, becoming chaplain to Robert of Normandy." [8]

Timeline

1050 -1100:Bishop of Bayeux
1066: Norman conquest of England
1067:Earl of Kent, Castellan of Dover
1075:Helps suppress rebellion of earls of Norfolk and Hereford
1082 - 7:Prisoner in Rouen
1088:Helps lead rebellion to put nephew Robert, Duke of Normandy, on English throne[9]
1096:Joins First Crusade with nephew Robert, Duke of Normandy
1097:Dies in Palermo, Sicily and buried there

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Kleiner, Fred S. (2011). Gardener's Art Through the Ages: A Global History. 13th ed., pp.465. Wadsworth Cengage. E-book.
  2. Wikipedia:Odo, Earl of Kent
  3. Medieval Lands v. 3. fmg.ac
  4. Odo and William: same mother, different fathers.
  5. Keats-Rohan, Domesday People, p.309
  6. hence its nickname
  7. The History of the Crusades, by, Joseph Fr. Michaud, William Robson, and Hamilton W Mabie, pg 81 [1]
  8. The first crusade; the accounts of eyewitnesses and participants, pg 296 [2]
  9. Medieval Lands: later banished from England; honors and possessions forfeited.

Edited for Style Standards. Gedcoms in Changes.

MEDIEVAL LANDS: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families by Charles Cawley © Foundation for Medieval Genealogy & Charles Cawley 2000-2018.




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Comments: 1

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Colorful and I think the bayeux tapestry is relevant enough to get some focus like this, but I am a bit concerned about the text's content. The wikipedia citations are extremely different compared to what wikipedia really has. Strange that we are mainly using a history of gardening? The large excerpt about the crusade is not specifically about Odo.
posted by Andrew Lancaster