Centre for Medieval Studies York Medieval Lecture Series with Rory Naismith, University of Cambridge

Rethinking the Reign of Offa, King of the Mercians (757-796)

Offa was king of the Mercians from 757 until 796. Beginning his reign as ruler of the English midlands, he expanded his territory to include all England south of the Humber save for Wessex. In the process Offa transformed how his kingdom was run, establishing a new blueprint for how large, multi-part polities could work. Drawing on charters, coins, chronicles and more, this lecture will cut through layers of criticism that were heaped on Offa in the centuries after his death and look at one of the great paths not taken in early medieval English history.

Description supplied by the event organiser.