2. Emperor Alexius’ Letter to Urban II (Clermont, AD 1095

Upon finishing his sermon, Urban imperceptibly turned from the altar to where Odo, Urban’s faithful adviser and closest friend, was sitting. Odo was to blame for all this, but was now unnoticed by the faithful crowd. He was quietly following the Mass, and more specifically the pope.

It was typical of Odo to avoid public life. He and Urban were complete opposites. Odo was a secular man, so secular that it was surprising how he remained among the confidants of the most powerful religious leader. Moreover, he held a position as sort of an advisor, a position that required a great deal of trustworthiness. Odo repeatedly tested Urban’s patience. He was in the habit of bothering the pope with his extreme frankness. There were instances where Urban would not receive Odo for months. We shouldn’t pamper him, Urban thought. After a while though, papal merci fulness would win over and Odo would recommence his regular visits to the palace. Urban tried not to show that he attached importance to Odo’s advice and comments, though Odo himself was not particularly interested in whether his advice was followed. He was overconfident that his every action would strengthen the papal supremacy, sometimes going beyond the boundaries of what was acceptable.

Urban never talked to Odo about religious, theological or doctrinal topics. He didn’t even know whether Odo was a believer or not, and at that point in their relationship it didn’t really matter, since Odo had done much more for the church than many of the cardinals or bishops, with their pseudo-sanctimonious prayers and exclusively demonstrative faith. Odo, unlike those mentioned above, was a man of action. Minimal philosophy, maximum work: this seemed to be Odo’s motto. Besides, no one seemed to be as deeply aware of people’s inner worlds and motives as Odo was. Each