Odo, Bishop of Bayeux

Odo (Eudes) de Conteville. Bishop of Bayeux, Earl of Kent.

Parents: Herluin and Herlève.

One illegitimate son: Jean de Bayeux

LINKS

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMAN%20NOBILITY.htm#HerluinContev...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odo_of_Bayeux

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odon_de_Bayeux

MEDIEVAL LANDS

EUDES [Odo] (-Palermo [2/6] Jan 1097, bur Palermo Cathedral). Guillaume de Jumièges names (in order) "Eudes et Robert" as the two sons of Herluin and Herlève[1880]. His parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that he was the half-brother of William I King of England[1881]. Named by Florence of Worcester as the brother of King William I "but only on his mother's side"[1882]. His half-brother invested him as Bishop of Bayeux on the death of Bishop Hugues, son of Raoul d'Ivry Comte de Bayeux[1883] in 1050. He is said to have taken an active part in the preparation of the Norman invasion of England and was present at the battle of Hastings 23 Oct 1066.

His half-brother William I King of England rewarded him with a grant of over 500 manors in England and created him Earl of Kent in 1067[1884]. Florence of Worcester records that King William left "fratrumque suum Odonem Baiocensem episcopum et Willelmum filium Osberni quem in Herefordensi provincia comitum" when he went to Normandy 21 Feb [1067][1885].

He was one of the leaders of the force which suppressed the rebellion of the Earls of Norfolk and Hereford in 1075[1886]. He began scheming to become Pope, sending great gifts to influential men in Rome, but was arrested by King William and sent to Normandy where he was a prisoner in Rouen between 1082 and 1087[1887]. He was released by King William on his deathbed[1888]. Although King William II restored Odo to his Earldom, he was one of the leaders of the rebellion in 1088 which sought to put Robert Duke of Normandy on the English throne[1889]. He was banished from England and all his honours and possessions forfeited. He became chief adviser to Duke Robert in Normandy, accompanying him on the First Crusade but dying en route in Palermo[1890].

Bishop Odo had one illegitimate son:

a) JEAN de Bayeux (-1131). Son of Odo bishop of Bayeux according to Orderic Vitalis, who records that Jean gave King Henry news of the death of his nephew Guillaume "Clito" Count of Flanders in 1128[1891]. Orderic Vitalis records that he lived at the court of Henry I King of England where he was held in esteem for his eloquence and probity[1892].

Odon de Conteville dit Odon de Bayeux, parfois prénommé Eudes (v. 1030 ou ap. 1035[1] – 6 janvier 1097[2], Palerme), fut un noble normand qui, grâce à sa parenté avec Guillaume le Conquérant, devint évêque de Bayeux, puis l’un des hommes les plus riches et puissants de l’Angleterre nouvellement conquise. Agissant comme régent d’Angleterre à plusieurs reprises durant les absences du roi, il fut aussi comte de Kent[3] (1067-1082, 1087-1088).

Personnage fameux pour son ambition, son implacabilité et son énergie[4], mais à la réputation contrastée, il tomba soudainement en disgrâce et fut emprisonné pendant cinq ans, de 1082 à 1087. Il est très probablement le commanditaire de la Tapisserie de Bayeux[4], l'œuvre brodée qui dépeint la conquête normande de l'Angleterre.

Biographie [modifier]

Avant la conquête [modifier]

Odon est le fils de Herluin (v. 1001-v. 1066), vicomte de Conteville, et d’Arlette de Falaise[5] (v. 1010-v. 1050). Il est probablement le fils aîné, bien qu'il soit impossible de le savoir avec certitude[2]. Sa mère, ancienne « frilla » (ou épouse à la manière danoise[note 1]) du duc de Normandie Robert le Magnifique (v. 1010-1035) est la mère de Guillaume le Bâtard (v. 1027-1087) (plus tard le Conquérant). Son frère cadet, est Robert de Mortain[5] († 1090). Sa date de naissance n'est pas connue, mais les historiens s'accordent aujourd'hui à penser que ses parents se seraient mariés vers 1030, peu de temps après la naissance de Guillaume le Conquérant, et qu'Odon serait né quelques temps après[1],[6].

Il reçoit l’évêché de Bayeux entre octobre 1049 et fin avril 1050[2]. Guillaume de Poitiers reconnaît qu’il est bien en dessous de l’âge canonique de trente ans à la date de cette nomination[5]. Suivant les hypothèses faites sur sa date de naissance, il est donc au mieux âgé de 19 ans, au pire de 14[1]. Comme aucun chroniqueur contemporain ne rapporte que sa nomination à la tête de l'évêché a provoqué un scandale, il est donc assez probable qu'il a alors 19 ans[1], et qu'il a dû recevoir une éducation religieuse importante[5]. À cause des troubles en Normandie durant toute la minorité du duc Guillaume le Bâtard, il est très probable qu’il est soustrait à la garde de ses parents et envoyé étudier ailleurs[5].

Sa nomination, ainsi que celle de son frère Robert au comté de Mortain quelques années plus tard, est due à la volonté du duc Guillaume de placer des hommes de confiance aux postes clés du duché[5]. En effet, la minorité du duc qui hérite de la Normandie à l'âge de 8 ans, en 1035, a été très agitée. Il a échappé à de multiples tentatives d'assassinat, et son duché a été le théâtre d'une situation anarchique, de nombreux barons refusant un duc bâtard. Finalement, en 1047, le duc a conclu cette période par une victoire sur les rebelles à Val-ès-Dunes[7]. Il décide alors de consolider son autorité sur la Basse-Normandie, notamment en mettant la main sur le très important et lucratif évêché bayeusain[5] qu'il confie à Odon.

La réorganisation du diocèse avait commencé sous son prédécesseur[5], le puissant Hugues II de Bayeux[note 2]. Grâce à lui, le patrimoine épiscopal, usurpé lors de la colonisation scandinave, avait été récupéré, et la construction d’une nouvelle cathédrale avait débuté[5]. Cette dernière sera achevée et consacrée par Odon en 1077[5].

À la mort du roi d'Angleterre Édouard le Confesseur sans héritier en 1066, Guillaume le Bâtard entend bien faire valoir sa revendication au trône d'Angleterre, mais Harold Godwinson se fait élire roi. Édouard le Confesseur l'ayant, selon lui, désigné héritier aux débuts des années 1050, il s'estime floué et envisage une invasion[7]. Odon participe au concile de Lillebonne[8] durant lequel les barons du duché sont consultés sur le projet d’invasion de l’Angleterre. Lors de ce concile, il promet de contribuer pour 100 navires[9] à la flotte qui débarquera outre-Manche[note 3]. Il accompagne son demi-frère Guillaume dans sa conquête de l'Angleterre en 1066.

Odo of Bayeux (c. 1036 – February 1097, Palermo),[1] Norman bishop and English earl, was the half-brother of William the Conqueror, and was for a time second only to the king in power in England.

He was the son of William the Conqueror's mother Herleva, and Herluin de Conteville. Count Robert of Mortain was his younger brother. There is some uncertainty about his birthdate. Some historians have suggested he was born as early as 1030, so that he would be about 19 instead of 14 when William made him bishop of Bayeux in 1049.

Although he was an ordained Christian cleric, he is best known as a warrior and statesman. He found ships for the invasion of England and was present at the Battle of Hastings: probably he did not actually fight at Hastings, but instead encouraged the troops from the rear. He was accompanied by William the carrier of his crozier and a retinue of servants and members of his household.

In 1067 Odo became earl of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. On some occasions when William was absent (back in Normandy), he served as de facto regent of England, and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions (e.g. the Revolt of the Earls): the precise sphere of his powers is not certain, however. There are also other occasions when he accompanied William back to Normandy.

During this time Odo acquired vast estates in England, larger in extent than any one except the king: he had land in 23 counties, primarily in the southeast and in East Anglia.

In 1076 he was tried in front of a large and senior assembly over the course of three days at Penenden Heath in Kent for defrauding the Crown and the diocese of Canterbury. At the conclusion of the trial he was forced to return a number of properties and his assets were re-apportioned.[2]

In 1082 he was suddenly disgraced and imprisoned for having planned a military expedition to Italy. His motivations are not certain. Chroniclers writing a generation later said Odo desired to make himself pope, but the contemporary evidence is ambiguous. Whatever the reason, Odo spent the next 5 years in prison, and his English estates were taken back by the king, as was his office as earl of Kent: Odo was not however deposed as bishop of Bayeux.

William, on his deathbed in 1087, was reluctantly persuaded by their brother Robert, Count of Mortain to release Odo. After the king's death Odo returned to his earldom and soon organized a rebellion in support of William's son Robert Curthose. The Rebellion of 1088 failed, and William Rufus, to the disgust of his supporters, permitted Odo to leave the kingdom. Afterwards, Odo remained in the service of Robert in Normandy.

He joined the First Crusade, and started in the duke's company for Palestine, but died on the way at Palermo in January or February 1097.

Little good is recorded of Odo. It was recorded that his vast wealth was gained by extortion and robbery. His ambitions were boundless and his morals lax. However, like many prelates of his age, he was a patron of learning and the arts. He was also a great architect. He founded the Abbaye de Troarn in 1059 and rebuilt the cathedral of his see, and is likely to have commissioned the celebrated Bayeux tapestry. He may also have sponsored an early version of The Song of Roland. More certain is his development of the cathedral school in Bayeux, and his patronage of a number of younger men who later became prominent prelates.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zrWyzAqc5iEC&lpg=PR2&ots=jVrqQCj...

Odo of Bayeux

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Odo of Bayeux (c. 1036 – February 1097, Palermo),[1] Norman bishop and English earl, was the half-brother of William the Conqueror, and was for a time second only to the king in power in England.

He was the son of William the Conqueror's mother Herleva, and Herluin de Conteville. Count Robert of Mortain was his younger brother. There is some uncertainty about his birthdate. Some historians have suggested he was born as early as 1030, so that he would be about 19 instead of 14 when William made him bishop of Bayeux in 1049.

Although he was an ordained Christian cleric, he is best known as a warrior and statesman. He found ships for the invasion of England and was present at the Battle of Hastings. He probably did not actually fight at Hastings, but instead encouraged the troops from the rear.

In 1067 Odo became earl of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. On some occasions when William was absent (back in Normandy), he served as de facto regent of England, and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions (eg the Revolt of the Earls). The precise sphere of his powers is not certain, however. There are also other occasions when he accompanied William back to Normandy.

During this time Odo acquired vast estates in England, larger in extent than any one except the king's. He had land in 23 counties, primarily in the southeast and in East Anglia.

In 1076 he was tried in front of a large and senior assembly over the course of three days at Penenden Heath in Kent for defrauding the Crown and the diocese of Canterbury. At the conclusion of the trial he was forced to return a number of properties and his assets were re-aportioned.[2]

In 1082 he was suddenly disgraced and imprisoned for having planned a military expedition to Italy. His motivations are not certain. Chroniclers writing a generation later said Odo desired to make himself pope, but the contemporary evidence is ambiguous. Whatever the reason, Odo spent the next 5 years in prison, and his English estates were taken back by the king, as was his office as earl of Kent. Odo was not however deposed as bishop of Bayeux.

William, on his deathbed in 1087, was reluctantly persuaded by their brother Robert, Count of Mortain to release Odo. After the king's death Odo returned to his earldom and soon organized a rebellion in support of William's son Robert Curthose. The Rebellion of 1088 failed, and William Rufus, to the disgust of his supporters, permitted Odo to leave the kingdom. Afterward, Odo remained in the service of Robert in Normandy.

He joined the First Crusade, and started in the duke's company for Palestine, but died on the way at Palermo in January or February 1097.

Little good is recorded of Odo. It was recorded that his vast wealth was gained by extortion and robbery. His ambitions were boundless and his morals lax. However, like many prelates of his age, he was a patron of learning and the arts. He was also a great architect. He founded the Abbaye de Troarn in 1059. He rebuilt the cathedral of his see, and is likely to have commissioned the celebrated Bayeux tapestry. He may also have sponsored an early version of The Song of Roland. More certain is his development of the cathedral school in Bayeux, and his patronage of a number of younger men who later became prominent prelates.

[edit]References

^ Article. Encyclopædia Britannica.

^ England's Topographer: Or A New and Complete History of the County of Kent by William Henry Ireland

David Bates, 'The Character and Career of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux (1049/50–1097)', Speculum, vol. 50, pp. 1–20 (1975).

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Aus dem Haus Conteville. War Bischof von Bayeux und Earl of Kent.

• Odo spielte ein bedeutende Rolle in der Schlacht von Hastings 1066, welche die Eroberung England zur folge hatte.
• Erhielt 1067 die Grafschaft Kent und wurde bald zum mächtigsten und reichsten Grundbesitzer Englands.
• Bischof von Bayeux 1049-1097.
• Earl of Kent 1066-1088.

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Ärkebiskop av Bayeux