# Offa becomes king of Mercia (757)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/757-offa-becomes-king-of-mercia
Categories: ruler-change

Offa rose to rule Mercia and extended influence across much of southern England. Within the broader Post-Roman Britain period, Roman institutions gave way to competing Brittonic and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms while Christianity was rebuilt through continental and Irish missions. This event is placed at AD 757 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. His reign marked the peak of Mercian political power.

## Why it matters
His reign marked the peak of Mercian political power.

Ruler at the time: [Post-Roman and Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms](https://english-history.com/rulers/post-roman-and-anglo-saxon-kingdoms)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Offa becomes king of Mercia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Offa+becomes+king+of+Mercia&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Offa becomes king of Mercia](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Offa+becomes+king+of+Mercia)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%28before_1000%29)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Anglo-Saxon England topic search](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Anglo-Saxon%20England)