Odon of Poznań (also known as of Greater Poland and Mieszkowic) (Polish: Odon poznański (wielkopolski, Mieszkowic)) (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.
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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 Sejm.
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 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.
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:
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.
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Odon of Poznań
Born: ca. 1149 Died: 20 August 1193 |
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| Preceded by Mieszko III the Old |
Duke of Greater Poland 1177–1182 |
Succeeded by Mieszko III the Old |
| Duke of Poznań 1177–1182 |
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| Preceded by Mieszko the Younger |
Duke of Kalisz 1193–1194 |
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