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|name=Offa

|name=Offa

|image=  

|image=  

|birth_date=

|birth_date=c. 730

|birth_place=

|birth_place=

|death_date=July 29, 796

|death_date=July 29, 796

|death_place=

|death_place=Bedford

|religion=

|religion=

|spouse=

|spouse=

}}

}}

'''Offa''' (d. July 29, 796) was King of [[Mercia]] 757-796 and [[Bretwalda]] of the other kingdoms of the [[Heptarchy]]. His power was so great that he declared himself ''King of the English'' in 774, the first person in Britain to use that title. He made a trade agreement with [[Charlemagne]] in Europe, and introduced the [[pound]] as a unit of currency in England.

'''Offa''' (c. 730 - July 29, 796) was King of [[Mercia]] 757-796 and [[Bretwalda]] of the other kingdoms of the [[Heptarchy]]. His power was so great that he declared himself ''King of the English'' in 774, the first person in Britain to use that title. He made a trade agreement with [[Charlemagne]] in Europe, and introduced the [[pound]] as a unit of currency in England.

Offa gives his name to [[Offa's Dyke]], a wall which once marked long stretches of the border between England and [[Wales]] (similar to [[Hadrian's Wall]] between England and [[Scotland]], although the latter is substantially older and also more famous and impressive).

Offa gives his name to [[Offa's Dyke]], a wall which once marked long stretches of the border between England and [[Wales]] (similar to [[Hadrian's Wall]] between England and [[Scotland]], although the latter is substantially older and also more famous and impressive).

{{Nb english monarchs}}

{{Nb english monarchs}}