Odo II, Count of Blois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Odo II
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 985 |
| Died | 15 November 1037 Bar-le-Duc |
| Noble family | House of Blois |
| Spouse(s) | Matilda Ermengarde |
| Issue | Theobald III, Count of Blois |
| Father | Odo I of Blois |
| Mother | Bertha of Burgundy |
Odo II (born in 985, died November 15, 1037) was a powerful French noble. He was a count of many important areas. These included Blois, Chartres, Châteaudun, Champagne, Beauvais, and Tours. Later, he also became Count of Troyes and Meaux.
Odo was very ambitious. He even tried twice to become a king. First, he aimed for the crown of Italy. Later, he tried to become king of Burgundy.
Contents
Odo's Early Life and Marriages
Odo II was born around 985. His father was Odo I of Blois. His mother was Bertha of Burgundy. Odo II was the first ruler to bring the lands of Blois and Champagne together. This made him very powerful. However, he spent most of his life fighting. He often battled his neighbors and the kings he was supposed to serve. He always tried to add more land to his own territories.
Around 1003 or 1004, Odo married Maud of Normandy. She was the daughter of Richard I of Normandy. Maud died in 1005 and they had no children. Richard II of Normandy, Maud's brother, then asked for her dowry back. A dowry was a gift of land or money given by the bride's family. In this case, it was half of the county of Dreux.
Odo refused to give it back. This led to a war between them. Finally, King Robert II of France stepped in. He was Odo's stepfather. King Robert helped them make a deal in 1007. Odo kept the castle of Dreux. Richard II kept the rest of the lands. Soon after, Odo married again. His second wife was Ermengarde, daughter of William IV of Auvergne.
Battles and Land Grabs
In July 1016, Odo was defeated in the Battle of Pontlevoy. He lost to Fulk III of Anjou and Herbert I of Maine. After this, he quickly tried to take over the region of Touraine.
Around 1019 or 1020, his cousin Stephen I, Count of Troyes died. Stephen had no children. Odo quickly took over Troyes, Meaux, and all of Champagne for himself. He did this without the king's permission. From there, he attacked Ebles I of Roucy, the archbishop of Reims. He also attacked Theodoric I, Duke of Lorraine.
The king of France and Emperor Henry II had an alliance. Because of this, Odo was forced to give the county of Reims to the archbishop.
Attempts to Become King
After 1024, some nobles in Italy offered Odo the Iron Crown. This would have made him king of Italy. However, the offer was quickly taken back. They did not want to upset the king of France.
In 1032, Odo invaded the Kingdom of Burgundy. This happened after Rudolph III of Burgundy died. But he had to retreat. This was because Emperor Conrad II and the new king of France, Henry I of France, teamed up against him.
In 1037, Odo tried to take advantage of Conrad II's absence. Conrad was in Italy. Odo invaded the Duchy of Lorraine. But he was defeated by the forces of Gothelo I, Duke of Lorraine. Odo died in the battle, which was called the Battle of Bar-le-Duc.
Odo's Children
Odo and his second wife, Ermengarde of Auvergne, had three children:
- Theobald III, who inherited the county of Blois and most of Odo's other lands.
- Stephen II, who inherited the counties of Meaux and Troyes in Champagne.
- Bertha, who first married Alan III, Duke of Brittany. Later, she married Hugh IV, Count of Maine.
