Biography of Offa King of Essex -709

Paternal Family Tree: Essex

Offa King of Essex was born to Sighere King of Essex.

In 664 Swithhelm King of Essex died. [his father] Sighere King of Essex succeeded King Essex. Sæbbi King of Essex (age 38) succeeded King Essex. They ruled jointly.

In 688 [his father] Sighere King of Essex died. His son Offa King of Essex succeeded King Essex.

In 709 Swæfred King of Essex died. His second cousin once removed Offa King of Essex succeeded King Essex.

In 709 Offa King of Essex died. His first cousin three times removed Saelred King of Essex succeeded King Essex.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 709. This year died Aldhelm (age 70), who was bishop by Westwood. The land of the West-Saxons was divided into two bishoprics in the first days of Bishop Daniel; who held one whilst Aldhelm (age 70) held the other. Before this it was only one. Forthere succeeded to Aldhelm; and Ceolred succeeded to the kingdom of Mercia. And Cenred went to Rome; and Offa with him. And Cenred was there to the end of his life. The same year died Bishop Wilferth, at Oundle [Map], but his body was carried to Ripon [Map]. He was the bishop whom King Everth compelled to go to Rome.

Bede. In the fourth year of the reign of Osred (age 12), Coenred, who had for some time nobly governed the kingdom of the Mercians, much more nobly quitted the sceptre of his kingdom. For he went to Rome, Italy, and there receiving the tonsure and becoming a monk, when Constantine (age 45) was pope, he continued to his last hour in prayer and fasting and alms-deeds at the threshold of the Apostles. He was succeeded in the throne by Ceolred, the son of Ethelred, who had governed the kingdom before Coenred. With him went the son of [his father] Sighere, the king of the East Saxons whom we mentioned before, by name Offa, a youth of a most pleasing age and comeliness, and greatly desired by all his nation to have and to hold the sceptre of the kingdom. He, with like devotion, quitted wife, and lands, and kindred and country, for Christ and for the Gospel, that he might "receive an hundred-fold in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting." He also, when they came to the holy places at Rome, received the tonsure, and ending his life in the monastic habit, attained to the vision of the blessed Apostles in Heaven, as he had long desired.

The same year that they departed from Britain, the great bishop, Wilfrid, ended his days in the province called Inundalum [Map], after he had been bishop forty-five years. His body, being laid in a coffin, was carried to his monastery, which is called Inhrypum, and buried in the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, with the honour due to so great a prelate. Concerning whose manner of life, let us now turn back, and briefly make mention of the things which were done. Being a boy of a good disposition, and virtuous beyond his years, he conducted himself so modestly and discreetly in all points, that he was deservedly beloved, respected, and cherished by his elders as one of themselves. At fourteen years of age he chose rather the monastic than the secular life; which, when he had signified to his father, for his mother was dead, he readily consented to his godly wishes and desires, and advised him to persist in that wholesome purpose. Wherefore he came to the isle of Lindisfarne [Map], and there giving himself to the service of the monks, he strove diligently to learn and to practise those things which belong to monastic purity and piety; and being of a ready wit, he speedily learned the psalms and some other books, having not yet received the tonsure, but being in no small measure marked by those virtues of humility and obedience which are more important than the tonsure; for which reason he was justly loved by his elders and his equals. Having served God some years in that monastery, and being a youth of a good understanding, he perceived that the way of virtue delivered by the Scots was in no wise perfect, and he resolved to go to Rome, to see what ecclesiastical or monastic rites were in use at the Apostolic see. When he told the brethren, they commended his design, and advised him to carry out that which he purposed. He forthwith went to Queen Eanfled, for he was known to her, and it was by her counsel and support that he had been admitted into the aforesaid monastery, and he told her of his desire to visit the threshold of the blessed Apostles. She, being pleased with the youth's good purpose, sent him into Kent, to King Earconbert,8 who was her uncle's son, requesting that he would send him to Rome, Italy in an honourable manner. At that time, Honorius, one of the disciples of the blessed Pope Gregory (age 40), a man very highly instructed in ecclesiastical learning, was archbishop there. When he had tarried there for a space, and, being a youth of an active spirit, was diligently applying himself to learn those things which came under his notice, another youth, called Biscop, surnamed Benedict, of the English nobility, arrived there, being likewise desirous to go to Rome, of whom we have before made mention.

In 709 Sigeheard King of Essex died. His second cousin once removed Offa King of Essex succeeded King Essex.

Ancestors of Offa King of Essex -709

Great x 3 Grandfather: Sledd King of Essex

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Sæberht of Essex

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ricula of Kent

Great x 1 Grandfather: Sæward King of Essex

GrandFather: Sigeberht the Little

Father: Sighere King of Essex

Offa King of Essex