Æthelbald and Offa: Two Eighth-Century Kings of Mercia. Papers from a Conference held in Manchester in 2000. Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies: Two Eighth-Century Kings of Mercia. Papers from a Conference held in Manchester in 2000. Manchester Cen

In these sixteen papers, from a conference held by the Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies in 2000, some well-known names approach the reigns of Æthelbald and Offa from a range of perspectives. Archaeology, landscapes, histories and coinage are used to discuss the nature of Mercian kingship; the use of violence; the patronage of nunneries; the legends of Offa and his legacy; the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and works of literature; Mercia and East Anglia; the urban landscape; Offa's Dyke; military obligations. The final three papers focus on the iconography and historical context of 8th-century coins and recent archaeological coin discoveries. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Editor’s Note Contributors TABLE OF CONTENTS FIGURES AND MAPS PLATE The Kingdom of the Mercians in the Eighth Century Orchestrated Violence and the ‘Supremacy of the Mercian Kings’ Onuist son of Uurguist: tyrannus carnifex or a David for the Picts? Æthelbald, Offa and the Patronage of Nunneries The Lives of the Offas: the Posthumous Reputation of Offa, King of the Mercians Legends of Offa: the Journey to Rome Æthelberht, King and Martyr: the Development of a Legend Mentions of Offa in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Beowulf, and Widsith Felix’s Life of Guthlac: history or hagiography? Guthlac’s Vita, Mercia and East Anglia in the first half of the Eighth Century Offa’s Dyke The Eighth-Century Urban Landscape Military Obligations and Mercian Supremacy in the Eighth Century The Coinage of Offa in the light of Recent Discoveries Beonna and Alberht: Coinage and Historical Context Riches in Heaven and on Earth: Some Thoughts on the Iconography of Coinage at the time of Æthelbald In these sixteen papers, from a conference held by the Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies in 2000, some well-known names approach the reigns of thelbald and Offa from a range of perspectives. Archaeology, landscapes, histories and coinage are used to discuss the nature of Mercian kingship; the use of violence; the patronage of nunneries; the legends of Offa and his legacy; the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and works of literature; Mercia and East Anglia; the urban landscape; Offa's Dyke; military obligations. The final three papers focus on the iconography and historical context of 8th-century coins and recent archaeological coin discoveries. Contributors: This volume presents 16 papers from the conference entitled "Æthelbald and Offa: Two Eighth Century Kings of Mercia" held in Manchester in 2000 at the Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies. Edited By David Hill, Margaret Worthington. Includes Bibliographical References.