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| '''Offa''' became King of ] in ] AD, and, as a result of subsequent military successes, effectively ruled the whole of ] south of the ] over a period. His date of birth is unknown. | '''Offa''' became King of ] in ] AD, and, as a result of subsequent military successes, effectively ruled the whole of ] south of the River ] over a period. His date of birth is unknown. | ||
| He was a devout Christian, a contemporary of ], and founded the diocese of ]. His power spread over such a large part of England, that he prided himself to be the King of England; he was the only king of Western ] to be regarded as an equal by Charlemagne. He also introduced ] ] in England. | He was a devout Christian, a contemporary of ], and founded the diocese of ]. His power spread over such a large part of England, that he prided himself to be the King of England; he was the only king of Western ] to be regarded as an equal by Charlemagne. He also introduced ] ] in England. | ||
Revision as of 10:40, 4 November 2002
Offa became King of Mercia in 757 AD, and, as a result of subsequent military successes, effectively ruled the whole of England south of the River Humber over a period. His date of birth is unknown.
He was a devout Christian, a contemporary of Charlemagne, and founded the diocese of Lichfield. His power spread over such a large part of England, that he prided himself to be the King of England; he was the only king of Western Europe to be regarded as an equal by Charlemagne. He also introduced silver coinage in England.
In 757, following the murder of his cousin, King Aethelbald, by Beornrad, Offa seized the throne of Mercia. A series of campaigns against the Kentish Saxons led eventually to the decisive Battle of Otford in 775. The Battle of Bensington in Oxfordshire ended the power of the West Saxons.
He is perhaps best known for Offa's Dyke, a great earthen wall between England and Wales. However, although this landmark is named after Offa, it is not known with certainty to what extent he was responsible for its construction. Some attribute the building of all or parts of the dyke to earlier periods.
Offa died in 796. After his death, the kingdom soon fell into decline. Only a quarter of a century after his death (825), the role of leading English power had been taken over by Wessex.
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