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Family
Odon was the son of Duke Mieszko III the Old of Greater Poland (later Grand Duke of Kraków) and his wife Elisabeth (Elżbieta Węgierska) from Hungary, maybe daughter of Bela the Blind, King of Hungary.
About 1184 Odon took as wife Viacheslavna Yaroslavna, the daughter of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich "Osmomysl" (Yaroslav I of Galicia), who bore him two sons, Władysław Odonic (abt. 1190 to 5 Jun 1239) and Odon (II) (abt. 1192 to1225), and two daughters, Ryksa (died after 1238) and Euphrosyne (Eufrozyna), who married Świętopełk II of Pomerania about 1217 or 1218.
Dynastic struggle
In 1177 Odon joined the revolt of the Lesser Polish nobility against his father, Mieszko the Old, whom they accused of favoring the children of his second marriage with Eudoxia (Ievdokia Iziaslavna, daughter of Iziaslav II Mstislavich, Grand Duke of Kiev). Odon apparently hoped thereby to enlarge his dominions, perhaps even so far as to obtain the Duchy of Greater Poland by force. Casimir the Just, who had become the Grand Duke of Kraków, offered him only Poznań. Odon pursued the war against his father until 1178, forcing Mieszko to abdicate and flee.
In 1181 Miesko the Old attacked Greater Poland with the aid of the Pomeranians, regaining control of Poznań and Greater Poland from his son Odon. He left Odon nothing but that portion of Greater Poland south of the river Obrą. After Odon’s younger brother Mieszko the Young (Polish Mieszko Młodszy, a.k.a. Miesko of Kalisz) died on 2 August 1193, Odon obtained the Duchy of Kalisz, with the agreement of his father.
Administration
Not a great deal is known about the manner in which Odon administrated his province. However, he founded a mint, and coins have been found bearing the inscription "Odon Dux" ("Duke Odon"), suggesting a high degree of autonomy.
Death and succession
Odon died on 20 August 1194 and is buried in the Cathedral of Poznań.
Since Odon's son Władysław Odonic 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 the Old reclaimed the Duchy of Kalisz.
Sources
See also
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