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[[Image:Dykemap.gif|right|thumb|200px|Map of Wales showing the route taken by Offa's Dyke]]

[[Image:Dykemap.gif|right|thumb|200px|Map of Wales showing the route taken by Offa's Dyke]]

Offa (757 -796 AD) was King of [[Mercia]], a kingdom in what is currently part of [[England]], between the Trent/Mersey rivers in the North to the [[Thames]] Valley in the South, and from the Welsh border in the West to the Fens in the East. At the height of his power, however, he also controlled [[Kent]], [[East Anglia]] and [[Lincoln]], and had alliances with [[Northumbria]] and [[Wessex]]. These alliances were  sealed by the marriage of two of his daughters to their Kings, Aethelred and Beorhtic respectively. He was, therefore, effectively one of the first Kings of England.

[[Offa]] (757 -796 AD) was King of [[Mercia]], a kingdom in what is currently part of [[England]], between the [[River Trent|Trent]]/[[River Mersey|Mersey]] rivers in the North to the [[Thames]] Valley in the South, and from the [[Wales|Welsh]] border in the West to the Fens in the East. At the height of his power, however, he also controlled [[Kent]], [[East Anglia]] and [[Lincoln]], and had alliances with [[Northumbria]] and [[Wessex]]. These alliances were  sealed by the marriage of two of his daughters to their Kings, Aethelred and Beorhtic respectively. He was, therefore, effectively one of the first Kings of England.

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''Within two miles, there is a famous thing; Cai'de Offa's Dyke, that reacheth farre in length;''<ref>Thomas Churchyard, The Worthines of Wales', 1587, see: http://www.wansdyke21.org.uk/wansdyke/wanart/nurse1.htm for a full reference </ref>

''Within two miles, there is a famous thing; Cai'de Offa's Dyke, that reacheth farre in length;''<ref>Thomas Churchyard, The Worthines of Wales', 1587, see: http://www.wansdyke21.org.uk/wansdyke/wanart/nurse1.htm for a full reference</ref>

   

   

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Offa's Dyke inspires thousands of tourists and walkers, wishing to walk the official Trail<ref> see the official National Trail Website: http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/OffasDyke/</ref>, which was opened in 1971, thanks mainly to the efforts of volunteers from the Offa's Dyke Association. The Trail is maintained by local authorities coordinated by the Countryside Council for Wales (including the sections in England), and the Ramblers' Association remains active in maintaining and promoting the route and running the Offa's Dyke Information Centre <ref>see the Ramblers association entry on the dyke: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/offasdyke.html</ref>

Offa's Dyke inspires thousands of tourists and walkers, wishing to walk the official Trail,<ref>see the official National Trail Website: http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/OffasDyke/</ref> which was opened in 1971, thanks mainly to the efforts of volunteers from the Offa's Dyke Association. The Trail is maintained by local authorities coordinated by the Countryside Council for Wales (including the sections in England), and the Ramblers' Association remains active in maintaining and promoting the route and running the Offa's Dyke Information Centre <ref>see the Ramblers association entry on the dyke: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/offasdyke.html</ref>

==References==

==References==

[http://www.offasdyke.demon.co.uk/ The Offa's Dyke Association]

[http://www.offasdyke.demon.co.uk/ The Offa's Dyke Association]

[[category:UK History]]

 

[[category:Tourist Attractions]]

[[Category:English History]]

[[Category:Tourist Attractions]]