Odo Ydonc
Encyclopedia
Odo Ydonc was a 13th century Premonstratensian
prelate
. The first recorded appearance of Odo was when he witnessed a charter by Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick
, on 21 July 1225. In this document he is already Abbot of Dercongal
, incidentally the first Abbot of Dercongal to appear on record.
Dercongal Abbey
(also Holywood Abbey, from Latin Sancti Nemoris), which is Gaelic or Irish Doire Conghaill, "oak-wood of St Congall", was a recently established house of Premonstratensian canons
, perhaps founded by Alan, Lord of Galloway
, but Odo's appearance is indeed the first time we know about the abbey's existence. An abbot of Dercongal, unnamed but surely Odo, was recorded as a papal mandatory in a document of Paisley Abbey
on 18 December the same year (1225).
It is unknown from what point or until what point Odo held the abbacy of Dercongal, but by 11 March 1235, when he next appeared on the record, he was merely a former abbot, and thus had been demoted in the intervening period. This appearance in the sources occurs because the Prior of Whithorn
and the canons
of Whithorn Priory
chose to elect Odo as their own candidate to succeed Bishop Walter
as Bishop of Galloway
; as Odo was a fellow Premonstratensian and indeed a canon of Whithorn, he was thus "one of them" and a natural choice.
Unfortunately for Odo, King Alexander II of Scotland
had his own candidate, another former abbot, Gilbert of Glenluce
, Cistercian ex-Abbot of Glenluce
, now monk of Melrose Abbey
; Alexander was recently crushing a revolt in Galloway
, and probably took an interest in the new bishop for this reason. Appeals to both the Archbishop of York
and the Pope himself were forwarded, and despite the protests of the canons and their argument about the "illegality" of Gilbert's election (who appears to have been supported only by Michael, the archdeacon of Galloway
), Gilbert secured consecration by Archbishop Walter de Gray
at York on 2 September.
An investigation by Pope Gregory IX
had already been started on 9 June, in which the Pope had issued a mandate to the Bishop of Rathlure, the Bishop of Raphoe
, and the Archdeacon of Raphoe, authorising them to investigate the legality of Odo's election, and if they found it to have accorded with canon law
, to consecrate him as Bishop of Galloway and compel Gilbert to restore everything he had taken; the results of this investigation are not known. Odo was still claiming the bishopric on 19 June 1241, but disappeared from the records after this date. It is not known when Odo died.
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
. The first recorded appearance of Odo was when he witnessed a charter by Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick
Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick
Donnchadh was a Gall-Gaidhil prince and Scottish magnate in what is now south-western Scotland, whose career stretched from the last quarter of the 12th century until his death in 1250...
, on 21 July 1225. In this document he is already Abbot of Dercongal
Abbot of Dercongal
The Abbot of Dercongal or Abbot of Holywood was the head of the Premonstratensian monastic community of Dercongal Abbey . The history of the abbots of the house is obscure and very few are known by name...
, incidentally the first Abbot of Dercongal to appear on record.
Dercongal Abbey
Dercongal Abbey
Dercongal Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastic community located in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The date of its foundation is not known, but it was certainly in existence as a Premonstratensian monastic community by 1225. The founder was presumably Alan, Lord of Galloway...
(also Holywood Abbey, from Latin Sancti Nemoris), which is Gaelic or Irish Doire Conghaill, "oak-wood of St Congall", was a recently established house of Premonstratensian canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
, perhaps founded by Alan, Lord of Galloway
Alan, Lord of Galloway
Alan Fitz Roland was the last of the MacFergus dynasty of quasi-independent Lords of Galloway. He was also hereditary Constable of Scotland.-Family:He was the son of Roland, or Lochlann, Lord of Galloway and Helen de Morville...
, but Odo's appearance is indeed the first time we know about the abbey's existence. An abbot of Dercongal, unnamed but surely Odo, was recorded as a papal mandatory in a document of Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey is a former Cluniac monastery, and current Church of Scotland parish kirk, located on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west central Scotland.-History:...
on 18 December the same year (1225).
It is unknown from what point or until what point Odo held the abbacy of Dercongal, but by 11 March 1235, when he next appeared on the record, he was merely a former abbot, and thus had been demoted in the intervening period. This appearance in the sources occurs because the Prior of Whithorn
Prior of Whithorn
The Prior of Whithorn was the head of the monastic community at Whithorn Priory, attached to the bishopric of Galloway at Whithorn. It was originally an Augustinian establishment, but became Premonstratensian by the time of the second or third known prior...
and the canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Whithorn Priory
Whithorn Priory
Whithorn Priory is located in Wigtownshire, Galloway. It was founded about the middle of the twelfth century, in the reign of David I, by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, with Gille Aldan, Bishop of Galloway, for Premonstratensian Canons, referred colloquially in Britain as the White Canons.The canons of...
chose to elect Odo as their own candidate to succeed Bishop Walter
Walter of Whithorn
Walter was Chamberlain of Alan, Lord of Galloway and later Bishop of Galloway. As Alan's chamberlain, he succeeded Bishop John after the latter's death, in 1209...
as Bishop of Galloway
Bishop of Galloway
The Bishop of Galloway, also called the Bishop of Whithorn, was the eccesiastical head of the Diocese of Galloway, said to have been founded by Saint Ninian in the mid-5th century. The subsequent Anglo-Saxon bishopric was founded in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and the first known...
; as Odo was a fellow Premonstratensian and indeed a canon of Whithorn, he was thus "one of them" and a natural choice.
Unfortunately for Odo, King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
had his own candidate, another former abbot, Gilbert of Glenluce
Gilbert of Glenluce
Gilbert was a 13th century Cistercian monk, abbot and bishop. His first appearance in the sources occurs under the year 1233, for which year the Chronicle of Melrose reported that "Sir Gilbert, the abbot of Glenluce, resigned his office, in the chapter of Melrose; and there he made his profession"...
, Cistercian ex-Abbot of Glenluce
Abbot of Glenluce
The Abbot of Glenluce was the head of the monastic community of Glenluce Abbey, Galloway. The monastery was founded in 1192 by monks from Dundrennan Abbey with the patronage of Lochlann , Lord of Galloway. In the 16th century the monastery increasingly came under the control of secular warlords...
, now monk of Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
; Alexander was recently crushing a revolt in Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
, and probably took an interest in the new bishop for this reason. Appeals to both the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and the Pope himself were forwarded, and despite the protests of the canons and their argument about the "illegality" of Gilbert's election (who appears to have been supported only by Michael, the archdeacon of Galloway
Archdeacon of Galloway
The Archdeacon of Galloway was the only archdeacon in the medieval Diocese of Galloway , acting as a deputy of the Bishop of Galloway. The following is a list of archdeacons:-List of archdeacons of Galloway:* Robert, fl. 1154 x 1186...
), Gilbert secured consecration by Archbishop Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray was an English prelate and statesman who rose to be Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.-Life:Gray was the son of John de Gray the Elder of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray , Bishop of Norwich. His sister, Hawise, married the Justiciar of England, Philip Basset...
at York on 2 September.
An investigation by Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
had already been started on 9 June, in which the Pope had issued a mandate to the Bishop of Rathlure, the Bishop of Raphoe
Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, and the Archdeacon of Raphoe, authorising them to investigate the legality of Odo's election, and if they found it to have accorded with canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, to consecrate him as Bishop of Galloway and compel Gilbert to restore everything he had taken; the results of this investigation are not known. Odo was still claiming the bishopric on 19 June 1241, but disappeared from the records after this date. It is not known when Odo died.