Władysław Odonic

Władysław (Ladislas or Ladislaus) Odonic Plwacz (c. 1190 – June 5 1239) was duke of Greater Poland from 1229 to 1234. A member of the Piast dynasty, he was the son of Odon of Poznań and the father of Przemysł I and Boleslaus of Greater Poland.

Biography

In 1206, he entered in conflict with his uncle and tutor Władysław III Spindleshanks, Grand Duke of Poland, who wanted to give the Duchy of Kalisz, his heritage land, to Silesia. His attempt to overthrow Władysław Spidleshanks, with the support of part of the Greater Poland nobility and of the archbishop of Gniezno Henryk Kietlicz, who launched an anathema against him, was however unsuccessful.

Władysław took refuge in Silesia, at Henry I the Bearded's court, and obtained the throne of Kalisz in 1207, which he reatined until 1217.

In 1210, at Borzykowa, Władysław, Henry and Conrad I of Masovia confirmed the privileges obtained by the Polish church at Łęczyca in 1180, included that of exemption from secular tribunals.

In 1218 he was again ousted from his lands, and escaped to Świętopełk II of Pomerania. With the support of the latter, he began the conquest of Greater Poland, which he completed in 1229. He was behind the murdering of Leszek I the White and the wounding of Henry the Bearded at an assembly of Piast dukes at Gąsawa.

In 1231 Henry attacked him to reinstate Władysław Spindleshanks in Greater Poland, but he was able to push back his forces.

The privileged conceded by Władysław Odonic to the Bishop of Poznań caused a rebellion of the nobility of Poland in 1233. Henry the Bearded took advantage of the situation to gain part of Greater Poland until 1239, year of Władysław Odonic's death. Ujście and Nakło were conquered later by Henry's son, Henry II the Pious.

Władysław Odonic was buried in the Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, Poznań.

ee also

*Dukes of Greater Poland
*Piast Dynasty