Odon of Poznan
Encyclopedia
Odon of Poznań (ca. 1149 – 20 April 1194) was a Duke of Greater Poland
and Poznań
during 1177/79–1182, and Duke of Kalisz
during 1193–1194.
He was the eldest son of Mieszko III the Old
, Duke of Greater Poland
and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his first wife Elisabeth
, daughter of King Béla II of Hungary
.
.
In 1177 Odon joined the revolt of the Lesser Polish
nobility against his father; the main reason of his collaboration to the rebels was the favoritism showed by Mieszko III to the offspring of his second marriage and the attempts of the High Duke to force him to became a priest, in order to eliminate him from the succession. Also Odon apparently hoped to enlarge his domains, perhaps even so far as to obtain the Duchy of Greater Poland
by force. His uncle Casimir II the Just
, offered him only Poznań. Odon pursued the war against his father until 1178, when Mieszko III was forced to abdicate and flee.
In 1181 Miesko III returned to the country and with the aid of the Pomerania
ns, regained the control over Greater Poland and Poznań from his son Odon. One year later, was made an agreement between father and son: Odon received a little portion of Greater Poland south of the river Obrą (however, some historians believed that he remained in the Greater Poland capital until his own death). After Odon’s younger brother Mieszko the Younger died on 2 August 1193, Odon obtained the Duchy of Kalisz
, with the consent of his father.
Little is known about Odon's government over Kalisz. However, he founded a mint
, and coins have been found bearing the inscription "Odon Dux" ("Duke Odon"), suggesting a high degree of autonomy.
Odon died on 20 August 1194 and was buried in the Cathedral of Poznań.
, Prince of Halych
. They had four children:
Since Odon's son Władysław was too young to reign, Odon bestowed the regency of his duchy in the south of Greater Poland upon his half-brother Władysław III Spindleshanks, while Miesko III reclaimed the Duchy of Kalisz.
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
and Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
during 1177/79–1182, and Duke of Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
during 1193–1194.
He was the eldest son of Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
, Duke of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his first wife Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Hungary (1128–1154)
Elisabeth of Hungary , was a Hungarian princess member of the House of Árpád and by marriage Duchess of Greater Poland.She was the eldest child of King Béla II of Hungary by his wife Helena, daughter of Duke Uroš I of Raška, Grand Župan of Serbia...
, daughter of King Béla II of Hungary
Béla II of Hungary
Béla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...
.
Life
His name appears for the first time as a signatory in a document issued on 21 May 1161 at Łęczyca, were took place the first Polish SejmSejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
.
In 1177 Odon joined the revolt of the Lesser Polish
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
nobility against his father; the main reason of his collaboration to the rebels was the favoritism showed by Mieszko III to the offspring of his second marriage and the attempts of the High Duke to force him to became a priest, in order to eliminate him from the succession. Also Odon apparently hoped to enlarge his domains, perhaps even so far as to obtain the Duchy of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
by force. His uncle Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
, offered him only Poznań. Odon pursued the war against his father until 1178, when Mieszko III was forced to abdicate and flee.
In 1181 Miesko III returned to the country and with the aid of the Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
ns, regained the control over Greater Poland and Poznań from his son Odon. One year later, was made an agreement between father and son: Odon received a little portion of Greater Poland south of the river Obrą (however, some historians believed that he remained in the Greater Poland capital until his own death). After Odon’s younger brother Mieszko the Younger died on 2 August 1193, Odon obtained the Duchy of Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
, with the consent of his father.
Little is known about Odon's government over Kalisz. However, he founded a mint
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
, and coins have been found bearing the inscription "Odon Dux" ("Duke Odon"), suggesting a high degree of autonomy.
Odon died on 20 August 1194 and was buried in the Cathedral of Poznań.
Marriage and issue
About 1184 Odon married with Viacheslava (d. aft. 1200), daughter of Yaroslav Vladimirovich "Osmomysl"Yaroslav Osmomysl
Yaroslav Osmomysl was the most famous Prince of Halych from the first dynasty of its rulers, which descended from Yaroslav I's eldest son. His sobriquet, meaning "Eight-Minded" in Old East Slavic, was granted to him in recognition of his wisdom...
, Prince of Halych
Halych
Halych is a historic city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. The town gave its name to the historic province and kingdom of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, of which it was the capital until the early 14th century, when the seat of the local princes was moved to Lviv...
. They had four children:
- Władysław Odonic (b. ca. 1190 - d. 5 June 1239).
- Ryksa (b. ca. 1191 - d. 18 November aft. 1238).
- Euphrosyne (b. ca. 1192/94 - d. 23 August 1235), married ca. 1225 to with Duke Swantopolk II of Pomerania.
Since Odon's son Władysław was too young to reign, Odon bestowed the regency of his duchy in the south of Greater Poland upon his half-brother Władysław III Spindleshanks, while Miesko III reclaimed the Duchy of Kalisz.
See also
- Dukes of Greater PolandDukes of Greater PolandThe Duchy of Greater Poland was a historical state of Poland, which existed from 1138 until 1320.-History:At the death of Polish duke Boleslaus III the Wrymouth , according to his testament, his country was divided by his will into 4-5 hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and the royal...