Odon of Poznań
Odon of Poznań also known as of Greater Poland and Mieszkowic (Polish: Odon poznański (wielkopolski, Mieszkowic); b. ca. 1149 - d. 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.
Life
His name appears for the first time as a signatory in a document isssued on 21 May 1161 at Łęczyca, were took place the first Polish Sejm.
In 1177 Odon joined the revolt of the Lesser Polish nobility against his father; the main reason of his colaboration 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 eliminated from the succession. Also Odon apparently hoped enlarged his dominains, 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 Pomeranians, 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.
Marriage and issue
About 1184[1] Odon married with Viacheslava (d. aft. 1200), daughter of Yaroslav Vladimirovich "Osmomysl", Prince of Halych.[2][3][4][5] 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.[6]
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
- ^ W. Dworzaczek, Genealogia, Warsaw 1959, tabl. 31; J. Wyrozumski, Dzieje Polski piastowskiej, Kraków 1999, p. 153.
- ^ J. Wyrozumski, Dzieje Polski piastowskiej, Kraków 1999, p. 153.
- ^ Complete Genealogy of the House of Piast
- ^ POLAND
- ^ According to some authors, she was daughter of Yaroslav Osmomysl's son Vladimir(ko); S. Łaguna, Rodowód Piastów, "Kwartalnik Historyczny", vol. XI, 1897, pp. 762-763; W. Dworzaczek, Genealogia, Warsaw 1959, tabl. 31.
- ^ Parentage is disputed among sources and historians.