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ODEVAERE, Josephus Dionysius, a Flemish painter, born in Bruges, Oct. 2, 1778, died in Brussels in February, 1830. He studied painting in Bruges and in Paris, and in 1804 obtained the great prize of the French academy of painting for a picture of the death of Phocion. A pension from the same institution enabled him to study in Rome from 1805 to 1812, and in 1814 he settled in Brussels. Among his paintings are the “Peace of Utrecht” (1814) and the “Battle of Waterloo” (1817).
ODILON BARROT. See Barrot.
ODIN, the principal god of Scandinavian mythology. He is said to dwell in Asgard, with the twelve Æsir, many of whom are his children. He rules the heavens; the clouds and the wind are subject to him. Frigga, his favorite goddess, controls nature, and Freyja, who is also sometimes represented as his spouse, is the custodian of the dead. Saga, the goddess of poetry, is Odin's offspring. Being the god of storm, Odin is also the god of war, and directs the course of battles by the Valkyries, virgin goddesses, who take the slain to Valhalla to lead an immortal life of joy and festivity in the company of Odin. As the father of poetry he rewards the real poets with a draught from the wine Odroehris. He is the inventor of runic writing. Odin is also an omniscient god, and the ravens Herginn and Muninn, generally perched on his shoulders, are sent out in all directions to inform him of passing events. He was worshipped by all the North Germanic races, and he reappears among the Saxons and Low Germans by the name of Wuotan and Wotan. (See Mythology.)—The Odin of mythology is considered to be connected with Odin the conqueror, who ruled, according to tradition, in the time of Pompey over a portion of Scythia, near the Black sea. Driven out of his territory, he is said to have advanced to the northernmost countries of Europe and Asia, and to have conquered Denmark and the Scandinavian peninsula.
ODOACER, king of Italy, put to death A. D. 493. He was the son of Edecon, a minister of Attila and chief of a tribe of Scyrri. Having led a roving life in Pannonia and Noricum, Odoacer went to Italy, entered the service of the western empire, and speedily rose to high command. After the abdication of Nepos and the elevation to the imperial throne of Romulus, called in derision Augustulus, the Heruli and other barbarian mercenaries demanded as a reward for their services a third part of the lands of Italy. When this was refused, the soldiers chose Odoacer for their leader, who drove Orestes, the father of Augustulus, to Pavia, stormed that city, and compelled Augustulus to abdicate (476). Odoacer made Ravenna his capital, and, though styled king of Italy, never assumed the purple, and had no coins struck in his name. But he ruled the country mildly, enforced the laws, and protected the frontiers from the barbarians of Gaul and Germany. Although an Arian, he did not molest the church. He ceded the Roman possessions beyond the Alps to Euric, king of the Visigoths, subdued Dalmatia, and defeated and captured Fava, king of the Rugians, in Noricum. At length Theodoric, leader of the Ostrogoths, descended from the Julian Alps, and defeated him near Aquileia and at Verona, and defeated another army encamped on the banks of the Adige. Odoacer retired to Ravenna, and for three years held out against his rival, but finally capitulated on condition of ruling with equal authority with Theodoric over Italy. Only a few days had passed when Odoacer was killed by the order of his associate, and his troops were massacred.
ODOMETER (Gr. ὁδός, a road, and μέτρον, a measure), an instrument for determining the distances passed over in travelling, also known as pedometer, perambulator, &c. Odometers attached to the wheels of carriages were employed by the ancient Romans. This kind of odometer records by a mechanical contrivance the number of revolutions of a wheel in passing from one place to another. The odometer carried by pedestrians, and designed for recording the number of steps, is generally called a pedometer. It resembles a watch in size and shape, and may be worn in the vest pocket. Its machinery is so constructed that by the rising and sinking of the body with each step a lever is made to vibrate, which moves the index hand connected with it.
O'DONNELL, Leopold (Span. O'Donel, Leopoldo), count of Lucena and duke of Tetuan, a Spanish soldier, born in Santa Cruz, island of Teneriffe, Jan. 12, 1809, died at Biarritz, France, Nov. 5, 1867. He was the son of a Spanish general who was descended from an Irish family that emigrated after the battle of the Boyne. Leopold entered the army, and at the age of 23 attained the rank of colonel. The Carlist war, in which he sided with the young queen, first brought him prominently into notice; and for his services in raising the siege of Lucena he was created count, and received the command of the army of the centre. He subsequently attached himself to the cause of the queen mother Christina, with whom, on the elevation of Espartero to the regency, he was obliged to take refuge in France. In 1841 he was permitted to return to Spain upon pledging his fealty to the government; but he almost immediately headed an insurrection in Navarre. Defeated at Pamplona, he again fled to France. On the overthrow of Espartero in 1843 he returned to Spain, and was appointed captain general of Cuba, where he is said to have amassed a fortune. After his return from Cuba he busied himself again with political intrigues, and on threatening to exert his influence against the government was appointed by Narvaez director general of the infantry, which office he retained till 1851. During the Sartorius ministry he became so deeply implicated against the court and Queen
