Odo (Eudo) "the Great" MEROVING Duke of Aquitane

   General Notes:

Odo the Great (also called Eudes or Eudo) (d.c.735), Duke of Aquitaine, obtained this dignity about 700. His territory included the southwestern part of Gaul from the Loire to the Pyrenees, with his capital in Toulouse. He retained it until his abdication in 735.

His earlier life is obscure, as is his ancestry and succession.

Several Dukes of Aquitaine have been named as Odo's father: Boggis or Bertrand, to which some ascribe descent from the Merovingian Charibert II, but also Duke Lupus I, who was not Merovingian at all. Odo is called the brother of Hubertus.

Odo succeeded to the ducal throne as early as 679 or 688, respecitvely probably the dates of death of Lupus and Bertrand or Hubertus' withdrawal. Other dates are possible, including 692, but he was certainly in power by 700. In 715, he declared himself independent during the civil war raging in Gaul. It is not likely that he ever took the title of king.

In 718, he appears as the ally of Chilperic II of Neustria and the Mayor of the Palace Ragenfrid, who may have offered recognition of his kingship over Aquitaine. They were fighting against the Austrasian mayor of the palace, Charles Martel; but after the defeat of Chilperic at Soissons in 719, he probably made peace with Charles by surrendering to him the Neustrian king and his treasures.

Odo was also obliged to fight the Saracens who invaded the southern part of his kingdom, and inflicted a severe defeat upon Anbasa ibn Suhaim Al Kalbi at the Battle of Toulouse on June 9, 721. This victory was celebrated with gifts from the pope, proving the independence of Odo in his foreign relations. When, however, he was again attacked by Charles Martel, the Saracens renewed their ravages, and Odo was defeated near Bordeaux; he was compelled to beg protection from Charles, who took up his struggle and gained his momentous victory at Poitiers in 732. In 735 the duke abdicated, and was succeeded by his son Hunald. He had another son, Ato, who succeeded later and a daughter, probably named Lampegia, who married an Arab chief. He died sometime later, probably in a monastery, perhaps as late as 740.

   Marriage Information:

Odo married Valtrude MEROVING Princess of the Ripaurian Franks, daughter of Walchigise MEROVING of the Ripaurian Franks, comte de Verdun and Valtrude. (Valtrude MEROVING Princess of the Ripaurian Franks was born in 642 in Verdun, Austrasia, France.)

   Marriage Information:

Odo also married Lamparde D' AUSTRASIE, daughter of Dagobert II MEROVING King of Austrasia and Mathilde VON METZ, after 688 in France. (Lamparde D' AUSTRASIE was born about 671 in Austrasia, France.)

   Marriage Information:

Odo also married Adele MEROVING of Austrasia, daughter of Dagobert II MEROVING King of Austrasia and Giselle Adele DE RAZÈS. (Adele MEROVING of Austrasia was born before 675 in Landen, Austrasia and died in 734.)