Odo of France

Odo
King of West Francia

The Coronation of Odo, from the Grandes Chroniques de France
Reign 888–898
Coronation February 888, Compiègne
Predecessor Charles the Fat
Successor Charles the Simple
Born c. 859/860
Died 1 January 898
La Fère, West Francia
House Robertian
Father Robert the Strong
Mother Adelaide of Tours
A Romantic image (1883) of Eudes regaining Paris by riding through the besiegers

Odo (or Eudes) (c. 859/860 – 1 January 898) was the elected King of West Francia from 888 to 898 as the first king from the Robertian dynasty. Before assuming the kingship Odo had the titles of Duke of France and Count of Paris.

Origins

Odo was the eldest son of Robert the Strong, Duke of the Franks, Marquis of Neustria and Count of Anjou. After his father's death in 866, Odo inherited his Marquis of Neustria title. Odo lost this title in 868 when king Charles the Bald appointed Hugh the Abbot to the title. Odo regained it following the death of Hugh in 886. After 882 he held the post of Count of Paris. Odo was also the lay abbot of St. Martin of Tours.[1][2]

Odo married Théodrate of Troyes and had two known sons, Arnulf (born probably about 885) and Guy (born probably about 888), neither of whom lived past the age of fifteen.

King

For his skill and bravery in resisting the attacks of Vikings at the Siege of Paris (885-886), Odo was chosen by the western Frankish nobles to be their king following the overthrow of Emperor Charles the Fat. He was crowned at Compiègne in February 888 by Walter, Archbishop of Sens.[3]

Denier of Odo of France
A manresana tower

Odo continued to battle against the Vikings and defeated them at Montfaucon, but was soon involved in a struggle with powerful Frankish nobles who supported the claim of Charles the Simple to the throne.

In 889 and 890 Odo granted special privileges to the County of Manresa in Osona. Because of its position on the front line against the Moorish aggression, Manresa was given the right to build towers of defence known as manresanas or manresanes. This privilege was responsible for giving Manresa its unique character, distinct from the rest of Osona, for the next two centuries.

To gain prestige and support, Odo paid homage to the East Francia's King Arnulf. Despite this, in 894 Arnulf declared his support for Charles the Simple, and after a conflict which lasted three years, Odo was compelled to come to terms with his rival and surrender a district north of the Seine to him.

Odo died in La Fère on 1 January 898.

References

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  1. ↑ Ernest Lavisse, Histoire de France, tome ii. (Paris, 1903)
  2. ↑ E. Favre, Eudes, comte de Paris et roi de France (Paris, 1893)
  3. ↑ Gwatking, H. M., Whitney, J. P., et al. Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III—Germany and the Western Empire. Cambridge University Press:London(1930)

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Odo, king of the Franks". Encyclopædia Britannica. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 4–5. 

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Charles the Fat		 King of West Francia
888–898 		Succeeded by
Charles the Simple
Titles of nobility
Preceded by
Conrad		 Count of Paris
882–888 		Succeeded by
Robert
Preceded by
Hugh the Abbot		 Margrave of Neustria
886–888
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