Editing Odo of Bayeux (section)

==Norman Conquest and after==
Although Odo was an ordained [[Christianity|Christian]] cleric, he is best known as a [[armed priests|warrior]] and statesman, participating in the [[Council of Lillebonne]]. He funded ships for the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman invasion of England]] and is one of the very few proven [[companions of William the Conqueror]] known to have fought at the [[Battle of Hastings]] in 1066. The [[Bayeux Tapestry]], probably commissioned by him to adorn his own cathedral, appears to labour the point that he did not actually fight, that is to say shed blood, at Hastings, but rather encouraged the troops from the rear. The Latin annotation embroidered onto the Tapestry above his image reads: {{lang|la|HIC ODO EPS BACULU TENENS CONFORTAT PUEROS}} ("EPS" abbreviating {{lang|la|episcopus}} "bishop" and "BACULU" omitting a final ''m'' – {{lang|la|baculum}} "cudgel"), in English "Here Odo the bishop holding a club strengthens the boys". It has been suggested that his clerical status forbade him from using a sword,<ref>This reason for his use of a club was proposed by David C. Douglas & George W. Greenaway, (Eds.) in: ''English Historical Documents 1042–1189'', London, 1959, p. 238, The Bayeux Tapestry. As Duke William himself is shown further on also holding a club, the theory seems to lose force.</ref> though this is doubtful: the club was a common weapon and used often by leadership<ref>Ewart Oakeshott thinks the club has significance as a symbol of leadership in ''European Weapons and Armour'', Ewart Oakeshott, 1980, pp. 62–63</ref> including by Duke William himself, as also depicted in the same part of the Tapestry. Odo was accompanied by William the carrier of his crozier and a retinue of servants and members of his household.

In 1067, Odo became [[Earl of Kent]], and for some years he was a trusted royal minister.{{sfn|Davis|1911}} On some occasions when William was absent (back in [[Normandy]]), he served as [[regent]] of England,{{sfn|Bates|2004}} and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions (e.g. the [[Revolt of the Earls]]): the precise sphere of his powers is not certain. There are also other occasions when he accompanied William back to Normandy.

During this time Odo acquired vast estates in England, larger in extent than anyone except the king: he had land in twenty-three counties, primarily in the south east and in [[East Anglia]].