Although Odo was an ordained
Christian cleric, he is best known as a
warrior and statesman, participating in the
Council of Lillebonne. He funded ships for the
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: ("EPS" abbreviating "bishop" and "BACULU" omitting a final
m – "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, though this is doubtful: the club was a common weapon and used often by leadership 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. On some occasions when William was absent (back in
Normandy), he served as
regent of England, 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. ==Trial, imprisonment, and rebellion==