8th century in England

8th century in England:

Other centuries

7th century | 9th century

Events from the 8th century in England.

Events

• 700
  • Osgyth, Abbess of Chich in Essex, is killed.
• 704
  • Æthelred of Mercia abdicates to become a monk at Bardney and is succeeded as king by his nephew Coenred.
• 705
  • Wilfrid is re-instated as Bishop of Ripon.^[1]
  • Bede completes his first chronological work.^[1]
• 709
  • Coenred of Mercia abdicates to become a monk in Rome and is succeeded as king by his cousin Ceolred.
• 710
  • Picts unsuccessfully invade Northumbria.^[2]
• 716
  • Æthelbald becomes King of Mercia on the death of Ceolred, marking the beginning of that kingdom's ascendancy over the other Saxon realms.^[1]
• 722
  • King Ine of Wessex fails to conquer Cornwall, being defeated at the three battles of Hehil, Garth Maelog, and Pencon.^[3]
• 726
  • King Ine of Wessex abdicates to travel to Rome and is succeeded by Æthelheard.
• Before 730
  • Northumbria annexes Rheged.
• 731
  • Bede completes his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People).^[1]
  • 13 January - Death of Berhtwald, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Tatwine.
• 732
  • Wilfrid II resigns the Bishopric of York and is succeeded by Ecgbert who establishes a library and school in York.
• 734
  • 30 July - Death of Tatwine, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Nothhelm.
• 735
  • Bishopric of York elevated to an Archbishopric; Ecgbert becomes the first Archbishop.^[1]
• 736
  • King Æthelbald of Mercia describes himself as "King of Britain".^[1]
• 739
  • 17 October - Death of Nothhelm, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Cuthbert.
• 740
  • Approximate date - Æthelheard of Wessex is succeeded by Cuthred.
• 747
  • First Council of Clofeshoh reforms the Church.^[1]
• 749
  • Edict of Gumley: Church freed from its economic obligations to the King of Mercia.^[1]
• 750
  • King Eadberht of Northumbria invades the Kingdom of Strathclyde, capturing Kyle.^[1]
• 752
  • Battle of Beorhford: Cuthred of Wessex defeats Æthelbald of Mercia at Battle Edge, Burford, Oxfordshire.^[1]
• 753
  • Cuthred of Wessex fights the Cornish.
• 756
  • King Eadberht captures Dumbarton, capital of Strathclyde.^[1]
• 757
  • King Æthelbald of Mercia murdered; succeeded by Offa.^[1]
  • King Sigeberht of Wessex deposed and murdered; succeeded by Cynewulf.^[4]
  • Wat's Dyke constructed.^[1]
• 760
  • Battle of Hereford: Battle between Mercia and the Welsh; Dyfnwal ap Tewdwr dies.^[3]
  • 26 October - Death of Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Bregowine.
• 764
  • Offa conquers Kent.^[1]
  • Death of Bregowine, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Jænberht.
• 771
  • Offa conquers Sussex.^[1]
• 774
  • Offa first uses the title "King of the English".^[1]
• 776
  • Battle of Otford: Kent expels the Mercians.^[1]
• 778
  • Offa raids Dyfed.^[3]
• 779
  • Hygeberht becomes Bishop of Lichfield.
• 784
  • Offa raids Wales.^[3]
  • Construction of Offa's Dyke begins.^[1]
• 786
  • Papal legates hold councils in Mercia and Northumbria.^[1]
  • Mercia regains control of Kent.^[1]
• 787
  • Offa issues the first silver penny.^[1]
  • Offa has his son consecrated as King; the first such ceremony in England.^[1]
• 788
  • At Offa's urging, the Pope elevates the Bishopric of Lichfield to an Archbishopric.^[1]
• 789
  • Charlemagne establishes a trade embargo on the English after failed negotiations for his daughter to marry Offa's son.^[1]
  • Norse activity in the British Isles: Viking raid on England, at Portland.^[2]
• 792
  • 12 August - Death of Jænberht, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Æthelhard.
• 793
  • 8 June - Vikings raid Lindisfarne.^[1]
• 794
  • Vikings raid Jarrow.^[1]
• 796
  • Kent rebels against Mercia again.^[1]
  • Offa raids Dyfed.^[1]
  • Battle of Rhuddlan.^[2]
  • 26 July - Offa dies and is succeeded by his son Ecgfrith who reigns only until December; Wessex regains its independence.^[2]
  • December - Ecgfrith is succeeded by Coenwulf of Mercia.
• 798
  • Kentish rebellion suppressed.^[1]
  • Saxons kill Caradog ap Meirion, King of Gwynedd.^[3]

References

See also