Odon of Poznań | |
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Duke of Greater Poland | |
Born | c. 1149 |
Died | 20 April 1194 (aged 44–45) |
Buried | Cathedral of Poznań, Poznań |
Noble family | House of Piast |
Spouse(s) | Viacheslava of Halych |
Father | Mieszko III the Old |
Mother | Elisabeth of Hungary |
Odon of Poznań, also known as Odon of Greater Poland and Mieszkowic, (Polish: Odon poznański (wielkopolski, Mieszkowic); c. 1149 – 20 April 1194) was a Duke of Greater Poland and Poznań during 1177–1182, and Duke of Kalisz from 1193 to 1194.
He was the oldest son of Mieszko III the Old, Duke of Greater Poland (and since 1173, High Duke of Poland) by his first wife, Elisabeth, who was the daughter of King Béla II of Hungary.
Odon's name appeared for the first time as a signatory in a document issued on 21 May 1161 at Łęczyca, the location of the first Polish Sejm.
In 1177, Odon joined the revolt of the Lesser Polish nobility against his own father, Mieszko III, because of the favoritism Mieszko III had shown to the offspring of his second marriage. Additionally, the High Duke had attempted to force Odon to become a priest in order to eliminate him from the succession. As well, Odon wanted to enlarge his domains and found an opportunity to conquer the Duchy of Greater Poland. His uncle, Casimir II the Just, had offered him only Poznań. Odon pursued the war against his father for a year until Mieszko III was forced to abdicate and flee.
By 1181, Miesko III had returned to Poland. Enlisting the aid of the Pomeranians, he wrested control over Greater Poland and Poznań from Odon. In 1182, by mutual consent, father and son agreed to divide Greater Poland between them: Odon would receive a portion of Greater Poland south of the river Obrą. Some historians believed that he remained in the Greater Poland capital until his death.