 |
|
|
 | | |  |
The Norman Conquest: a family affair |
 |
The siege of Rochester Castle marked the end of Odo's days in Kent |
Power-hungry
Not even satisfied with this authority, however, in 1082 Odo made a bid to purchase the papacy, causing a split with William, who arrested his half-brother himself. Odo was tried and imprisoned for sedition, and only released following William’s death.
But a leopard never changes its spots, and Odo was soon causing trouble again, leading a revolt against the new King - William Rufus. Again Kent suffered at Odo’s hands, as the revolt was played out on Kentish soil. Odo and his supporters ravaged the royal possessions in the county, as well as those of Lanfranc, but Rufus soon crushed the rebellion, which ended with siege of Rochester Castle, and Odo was exiled from England for good.
Effective but unpopular
There was no other Earl of Kent after Odo: despite his tyrannical behaviour and the unrest he created, Odo had served his purpose, 
Odo left Rochester to jeers from his Kentish subjects
© Mary Evans Picture Library |
securing the county and defending the coast while the Norman kingdom was still vulnerable in its infancy. Odo’s final split with William should not disguise the fact that he was almost indispensable to his half-brother’s government.
And yet, in Kent, Odo’s ruthlessness and arrogance won him only enemies. The legend of his final surrender at Rochester is perhaps the most fitting testimony to his unpopularity in Kent. As he left Rochester castle the jeers of his English subjects demanded the hangman’s noose - Odo’s harsh rule had left a bitter taste amongst the men of Kent.
Your comments
| |
 Print this page |
|
Archive
Look back into the past using the Legacies' archives. Find nearly 200 tales from around the country in our collection.
Read more > |
| | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The 成人快手 is not responsible for the content of external Web sites. |
| | | |
| | |
| |
|
