Offa of Angel facts for kids

Wermund runs to embrace his victorious son Offa. This picture is from a 19th-century book.

Offa was a legendary king of the Angles. The Angles were an ancient Germanic people. His story is found in old writings like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This book tells us about the history of the Anglo-Saxons.

Offa was the son of a king named Wermund. He was also the father of Angeltheow. His name appears in an old English poem called Widsith. Some people believe he is the same person as Uffo. Uffo was a legendary Danish king. His story is told in a book called Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus.

Offa's Story in History

The old English poem Widsith was written in the 8th century. It briefly talks about Offa winning a fight. Later, in the 12th century, Danish historians like Saxo and Sven Aggesen shared this story in more detail.

According to these old writings, Offa successfully took over the land of the Myrgings. The Myrgings might have been a group of Saxons. Offa won their land by defeating two Myrging princes in a one-on-one fight. After his victory, he became their king.

Offa might also be the same person mentioned in the famous poem Beowulf. In Beowulf, Offa is married to a queen named Modþryð.

The Legend of Silent Uffi

Offa's name written in the old Beowulf poem.

In the stories told by Saxo, Uffi (who is Offa) was unable to speak for many years. His father, King Wermund, was old and blind. Wermund thought Uffi was simple-minded. To make sure Uffi would still become king, Wermund arranged for him to marry the daughter of a nearby leader named Freawine. The idea was that Freawine would help Uffi when he became king.

However, things did not go as planned. Freawine was killed by a Myrging leader named Eadgils. King Wermund then raised Freawine's sons, Ket and Wig, as his own. These two sons later caused great shame for the Angles. They ambushed Eadgils in a forest and killed him when he was alone.

Because of this, the people around them started to make fun of the Angles. They said the Angles were cowards and had no honor. The nearby Saxons thought King Wermund was too weak to rule. They sent messengers to Wermund's court. These messengers made fun of the blind king.

This made Wermund challenge their king to a duel. But the Saxon king refused to fight a blind man. It was at this moment that Uffi finally spoke! He explained that his silence was because of the great dishonor from Eadgils' death. Uffi then bravely challenged the Saxon prince and one of his best fighters to a duel. He wanted to win back the honor of the Angles.

Uffi's important fight happened on an island in the Eider River at a place called Fifeldore. This place is near Rendsburg. Uffi fought bravely and managed to kill both of his opponents. This victory brought great honor back to the Angles.