ODO1 OF BAYEUX (c. 1036-1097)

This article appears in Volume V20, Page 5 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: NUM-ORC

ODO1 OF BAYEUX (c. 1036-1097) , Norman bishop and English

earl

EARL

, was a uterine brother of William the Conqueror, from whom he received, while still a youth, the see of Bayeux (1049). But his active career was that of a warrior and states-man. He found ships for the invasion of England and fought in person at Senlac; in 1067 he became

earl

EARL

of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. At times he acted as viceroy in William's absence; at times he led the royal forces to chastise rebellions. But in 1083 he was suddenly disgraced and imprisoned for having planned a military expedition to Italy. He was accused of desiring to make himself

pope

; more probably he thought of serving as a papal condottiere against the emperor

Henry

IV. The Conqueror, when on his death-bed, reluctantly permitted Odo's release (ro87). The bishop returned to his earldom and soon organized a rebellion with the object of handing over England to his eldest nephew, Duke Robert. William Rufus, to the disgust of his supporters, permitted Odo to leave the kingdom after the collapse of this

design

DESIGN (Fr. desiin, drawing; Lat. designare, to mark out)

(ro88), and thenceforward Odo was the right-hand man of Robert in Normandy. He took part in the agitation for the First Crusade, and started in the duke's company for Palestine, but died on the way, at Palermo (February 1097). Little good is recorded of Odo. His vast wealth was gained by

extortion

EXTORTION (Lat. extorsio, from extorquere, to twist out, to take away by force)

and robbery. His ambitions were boundless and his morals lax. But he was a patron of learning and, like most prelates of his age, a

great

GREAT

architect. He rebuilt the cathedral of his see, and may perhaps have commissioned the unknown artist of the celebrated Bayeux tapestry.
See the authorities cited for WILLIAM I. and WILLIAM II., the biographical sketch in Gallia Christiana, xi. 353-360; H. Wharton Anglia Sacra, i. 334-339 (1691); and F. R. Fowke, The Bayeux Tapestry (London, 1898). (H. W. C. D.)

End of Article: ODO1 OF BAYEUX (c. 1036-1097)

If you wish, you can link directly to this article.

<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/NUM_ORC/ODO1_OF_BAYEUX_c_1036_1097_.html">
ODO1 OF BAYEUX (c. 1036-1097)
</a>

(Previous)
ODO

(Next)
ODOACER, or ODOVACAR (c. 434-493)

JCSM was founded in 1997 and exists to help the community and bring people into a life-changing and productive relationship with Jesus Christ. JCSM offers over 200,000 free web pages, including its weekly inspirational emails that were sent continuously for over a decade.

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
1-888-887-0417 or Email

Sponsored Advertisements

Online First Aid and CPR Certification . DHA Solutions . PB Happy Hour Specials . Improvising Made Easy For Guitar and Bass . The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained . Home Equity Loans . First Aid and CPR Online . San Diego Music Lessons . 10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings . Blow Up Your Site (For Free!) . San Diego DUI Lawyers . Jason Gastrich . Jordan Faith Gastrich . Divorce Secrets Revealed . Post Your Ad Link Free . San Diego Soccer Training . JCSM . Download Sermons . Custom Religious Banners, Build A Sign . Christian Singles Dating . Christian T-Shirts . Healing Christian Prayer . Bumper Authority . Personalized Blogs and Email . San Diego Haircuts . The Do the Math Diet . Stop Twitter Spam . Christian Conservative Work at Home Network . The Website of the Lord