Bishop Odo of Bayeux Flashcards
Who was Bishop Odo?
Bishop Odo was William’s half-brother, and was awarded the earldom of Kent in England, as well as a number of other large estates.
How many ships did he provide William for the Battle of Hastings?
100
How was Williams trust in Bishop Odo’s seen, when William left to Norman’s at 1070?
He left both the Odo and William FitzOsbern as his regents
How and when did enmity begin to arise between Odo and William?
From 1076, it seems that William was less tolerant of Odo’s behaviour.
❖Archbishop Lanfranc took the Church’s complaints against Odo to William, and in 1076 Odo was forced to hand back the land he had taken.
❖In 1079, William sent Odo to Northumbria after attacks by the Scottish. Odo reportedly devastated Durham and ransacked the cathedral. He also robbed and extorted people.
In 1082, Odo was imprisoned by William due to his greed and was not released until the king was on his deathbed.
How did Bishop Odo react to William Rufus?
Bishop Odo, freed from prison in 1087, joined the rebellion to support Robert’s claim as king. This may have been because he thought that Robert would be easier to control.
❖Odo’s brother, Robert of Mortain, also joined the rebellion.
❖Odo and his brother controlled large areas of the south of England.
❖Odo and Robert of Mortain took refuge in Pevensey Castle, where William Rufus besieged them for six weeks.
❖Both William Rufus’ uncles were captured, but Odo managed to escape to Rochester Castle.
❖He waited for help from his nephew, Robert, but it never came. Odo was eventually forced out of the castle by hunger and disease and was exiled.
