Offa
Born in 000
The 8th century king of Mercia Offa was the most remarkable Saxon king with the exception of Alfred, expanding his power over several other kingdoms before his death fighting the Welsh in 796.
Offa’s date and place of birth are unknown. He came to the throne of Mercia in 757 after a period of unrest, succeeding Beornred who reigned briefly after Aethelbald’s murder. The story of his reign was one of conquest and diplomatic advancement of Mercia’s power: Kent fell to him first in the 760s; Sussex in 771; and East Anglia in 794. Alliance and the marriage of one of his daughters to the King of Wessex saw that region to all intents within Offa’s control, and he married another to the King of Northumbria, though that kingdom remained independent. Such was his position that he felt enabled to style himself Rex Anglorum – King of the English.
As ruler of most of England Offa tried to control the church there, and managed to get the Pope, Hadrian I, to create the Archbishopric of Lichfield, reducing the power (albeit briefly) of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Charlemagne King of the Franks recognized the growing power of his fellow king, and diplomatic relations saw increasing trade between their lands, and cooperation on various church affairs.
Offa is best remembered from the earth fortification he built between England and Wales, Offa’s Dyke, a defensive construction of considerable magnitude that shows the power of its builder and his organisational skills. It was the Welsh, however, who proved Offa’s downfall - he is thought to have died fighting them at the battle of Rhuddlan in Welsh territory in 796, probably on July 29. He was buried in Bedford.
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