Odon of Poznań

Odon of Poznań, also known as Odon of Greater Poland and Mieszkowic, (Polish: Odon poznański (wielkopolski, Mieszkowic); c. 1149 – 20 April 1194) was a Duke of Greater Poland and Poznań during 1177–1182, and Duke of Kalisz from 1193 to 1194.

Odon of Poznań
Duke of Greater Poland
Coat-of-arms of Piast of Poland
Born	c. 1149
Died	20 April 1194 (aged 44–45)
Buried	Cathedral of Poznań, Poznań
Noble family	House of Piast
Spouse(s)	Viacheslava of Halych
Issue Władysław Odonic Ryksa Euphrosyne
Father	Mieszko III the Old
Mother	Elisabeth of Hungary

He was the oldest son of Mieszko III the Old, Duke of Greater Poland (and since 1173, High Duke of Poland) by his first wife, Elisabeth, who was the daughter of King Béla II of Hungary.

Life

Odon's name appeared for the first time as a signatory in a document issued on 21 May 1161 at Łęczyca, the location of the first Polish Sejm.

In 1177, Odon joined the revolt of the Lesser Polish nobility against his own father, Mieszko III, because of the favoritism Mieszko III had shown to the offspring of his second marriage. Additionally, the High Duke had attempted to force Odon to become a priest in order to eliminate him from the succession. As well, Odon wanted to enlarge his domains and found an opportunity to conquer the Duchy of Greater Poland. His uncle, Casimir II the Just, had offered him only Poznań. Odon pursued the war against his father for a year until Mieszko III was forced to abdicate and flee.

By 1181, Miesko III had returned to Poland. Enlisting the aid of the Pomeranians, he wrested control over Greater Poland and Poznań from Odon. In 1182, by mutual consent, father and son agreed to divide Greater Poland between them: Odon would receive a portion of Greater Poland south of the river Obrą. Some historians believed that he remained in the Greater Poland capital until his death.

When Odon’s younger brother, Mieszko the Younger, died on 2 August 1193, Odon obtained the Duchy of Kalisz with his father's blessing.

Little is known about Odon's reign over Kalisz beyond the fact that he founded a mint, where coins have been recovered bearing the inscription "Odon Dux" ("Duke Odon")—suggesting a high degree of autonomy.

Odon died on 20 April 1194. He was buried in the Cathedral of Poznań.

Marriage and issue

In about 1184,[1] Odon married Viacheslava (d. aft. 1200), daughter of Yaroslav Vladimirovich "Osmomysl", Prince of Halych.[2][3] They had 3 children:

1. Władysław Odonic (c. 1190 – 5 June 1239)
2. Ryksa (c. 1191 – 18 November aft. 1238)
3. Euphrosyne (c. 1192/94 – 23 August 1235); married c. 1225 to Swantopolk II, Duke of Pomerania.[4]

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.

References

1. Włodzimierz Dworzaczek, Genealogia, Warszawa 1959, tabl. 31; Jerzy Wyrozumski, Dzieje Polski piastowskiej, Kraków 1999, p. 153.
2. J. Wyrozumski, Dzieje Polski piastowskiej, Kraków 1999, p. 153.
3. According to some authors, she was daughter of Yaroslav Osmomysl's son Vladimir(ko); Stosław Łaguna, Rodowód Piastów, "Kwartalnik Historyczny", vol. XI, 1897, pp. 762–763; Włodzimierz Dworzaczek, Genealogia, Warszawa 1959, tabl. 31.
4. Parentage is disputed among sources and historians.

See also

• Dukes of Greater Poland