Reign 888–898 Mother Adelaide of Tours House Robertians Father Robert the Strong Spouse Theodrate of Troyes | Successor Charles III Role King of Western Francia Predecessor Charles the Fat Name Odo France Siblings Robert I of France | |
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Coronation February 888, Compiegne Died January 1, 898 AD, La Fere, France Parents Robert the Strong, Adelaide of Tours Grandparents Robert III of Worms, Hugh of Tours, Waldrada of Worms Similar People Robert I of France, Charles the Bald, Hugh the Great, Hugh Capet, Robert II of France | ||
Odo of France | Wikipedia audio article
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.
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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.
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.
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. He was only 39 years old.