Bishop Odo of Bayeux
I can describe the career of Bishop Odo of Bayeux and his impact on England.
Bishop Odo of Bayeux
I can describe the career of Bishop Odo of Bayeux and his impact on England.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Norman conquest changed the lives of aristocrats such as Lanfranc and Odo, who in turn impacted England.
- Odo was made Bishop of Bayeux despite being more focused on secular affairs than spiritual ones.
- Odo played an important part in the planning and execution of the Norman invasion of England.
- Odo was rewarded with land and power; he was made regent, the earl of Kent, and became extraordinarily wealthy.
- Odo abused his powers, and in 1082, William imprisoned him.
Common misconception
According to the Bayeux Tapestry, Odo played an important role in the Norman invasion.
There is reason to be sceptical about this depiction. The Bayeux Tapestry was commissioned by Odo. This perhaps explains why Odo is self-importantly shown as central to the planning and delivery of the invasion.
Keywords
Regent - a regent is a person who rules a country for a limited period, because the monarch is absent, too young or too ill
Secular - someone who is focused on the secular is focused on things that have no connection with religion or the spiritual world, such as land and money
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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