Odo of Deuil
Encyclopedia
Odo, Odon, or Eudes of Deuil (1110 – April 18, 1162) was an historian and participant of the Second Crusade
(1147–1149).
Born at Deuil to a modest family, he became a monk
and was a confidant of Suger
, abbot of Saint-Denis
. He took part in the Second Crusade
in 1147, and served as the chaplain of Louis VII
on the expedition.
His narrative of the Crusade is entitled De profectione Ludovici VII in Orientem (On Louis VII's journey to the East), which relates the progress of the crusade from France to Antioch
. It was written so that Suger could compose a history of Louis' life. Odo explains the failure of the crusade in terms of human action rather than as the will of God, in contrast to the reasoning of Otto of Freising
. His aims were to glorify Louis, but also to provide a guide for future crusaders so that the mistakes of the Second Crusade would not be repeated.
Odo blamed the Byzantine Empire
under Manuel Comnenus for the downfall of the crusade. Odo's prejudice against Byzantium led Runciman
to describe Odo as "hysterically anti-Greek." However, Phillips has recently argued that Odo's view of Byzantium was possibly rooted in ideological differences which minor skirmishes between the crusaders and Greeks had brought to the fore. His prejudice should also be set against the experience of Conrad III of Germany
, who wrote that Manuel treated him as a "brother."
Odo's account ends with the remnant of the crusade arriving at Antioch, and so does not include a description of the Siege of Damascus
.
He returned to France and became abbot of Saint-Denis in 1151.
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
(1147–1149).
Born at Deuil to a modest family, he became a monk
Christian monasticism
Christian monasticism is a practice which began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modeled upon scriptural examples and ideals, including those in the Old Testament, but not mandated as an institution in the scriptures. It has come to be regulated by religious rules Christian...
and was a confidant of Suger
Abbot Suger
Suger was one of the last Frankish abbot-statesmen, an historian, and the influential first patron of Gothic architecture....
, abbot of Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
. He took part in the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
in 1147, and served as the chaplain of Louis VII
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
on the expedition.
His narrative of the Crusade is entitled De profectione Ludovici VII in Orientem (On Louis VII's journey to the East), which relates the progress of the crusade from France to Antioch
Principality of Antioch
The Principality of Antioch, including parts of modern-day Turkey and Syria, was one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade.-Foundation:...
. It was written so that Suger could compose a history of Louis' life. Odo explains the failure of the crusade in terms of human action rather than as the will of God, in contrast to the reasoning of Otto of Freising
Otto of Freising
Otto von Freising was a German bishop and chronicler.-Life:He was the fifth son of Leopold III, margrave of Austria, by his wife Agnes, daughter of the emperor Henry IV...
. His aims were to glorify Louis, but also to provide a guide for future crusaders so that the mistakes of the Second Crusade would not be repeated.
Odo blamed the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
under Manuel Comnenus for the downfall of the crusade. Odo's prejudice against Byzantium led Runciman
A History of the Crusades
A History of the Crusades is arguably the best known and most widely acclaimed work of historian Steven Runciman.A cursory glance at the body of Runciman’s work would lead many to believe that his passion for history lay in the Byzantine Empire. Although Byzantium was his speciality, Runciman’s...
to describe Odo as "hysterically anti-Greek." However, Phillips has recently argued that Odo's view of Byzantium was possibly rooted in ideological differences which minor skirmishes between the crusaders and Greeks had brought to the fore. His prejudice should also be set against the experience of Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
, who wrote that Manuel treated him as a "brother."
Odo's account ends with the remnant of the crusade arriving at Antioch, and so does not include a description of the Siege of Damascus
Siege of Damascus
The Siege of Damascus took place over four days in July 1148, during the Second Crusade. It ended in a decisive crusader defeat and led to the disintegration of the crusade. The two main Christian forces that marched to the Holy Land in response to Pope Eugenius III and Bernard of Clairvaux's call...
.
He returned to France and became abbot of Saint-Denis in 1151.
Sources
- Odo of Deuil, De profectione Ludovici VII in Orientem, tr. V.G. Berry (New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1948).
- J. Phillips, "Odo of Deuil's De profectione Ludovici VII in Orientem as a source for the Second Crusade", in M. Bull et al. (eds), The Experience of Crusading, 2 Vols (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), 1.80-95.
- S. RuncimanSteven RuncimanThe Hon. Sir James Cochran Stevenson Runciman CH — known as Steven Runciman — was a British historian known for his work on the Middle Ages...
, A History of the Crusades, 3 Vols (London: Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 1951-4).