The life and writings of Odo of Deuil : Abbot of Saint-Denis

Abstract

Odo of Deuil is best known in modem historiography as an eyewitness historian of the Second Crusade, having participated in that expedition as the chaplain of King Louis VII of France. Odo's account of the crusade, the De Profectione Ludovici VII in Orientem, constitutes the most important narrative of the event. Odo, however, has often come in for criticism in modern historiography for what are seen as his intolerant views regarding the Byzantine Empire and also his lack of criticism of Louis's actions. Odo has thus been somewhat pigeon holed simply as an anti-Greek crusading historian. This is particularly unfortunate given that Odo was a monk at the famous French abbey of St. Denis during the abbacy of the powerful Abbot Suger. Indeed, following Suger's death in 1151, Odo himself became the abbot of St. Denis.