"For too long, the eighth century has been a neglected era in British history: a shadow land between the death of Saint Bede and the triumphs of King ¥lfred and the eventual unification of England. Butbefore the victories of King ¥lfred against the Viking invaders, the kingdom of Mercia--spread across a broad swathe of central England--was the reigning power that exercised central political authority for the first time since the Roman Empire. This authority was used to construct trading networks and markets; to develop strong economic, cultural, and political links with the Continent; and to lay the foundations for a system of defense that would be invigorated and reinvented by ¥lfred at the end of the ninth century. ... In this ... history of early medieval Britain, Max Adams reconnects the worlds ofthe three kings--¥thelbald, Offa, and ¥lfred--in [a] ... study of the landscape, society, and politics of a fascinating century of change"-- Provided by publisher.

Maps on endpapers.

List of maps -- Forespµc: The birth of the Anglo-Saxons -- A note on maps -- Introduction: The Kalends of January -- Chronography I: 628-716. Penda : war 630-658 ; Wulfhere : conversion 658-675 ; ¥ºelred : foundations 675-704 ; Cœnred; Coelred : no country for old men 704-716 -- Chronography II: 718-796. ¥ºelred : Rex Britanniae 716-735 ; ¥ºelred : England's anvil 736-757 ; Offa : overlord 757-779 ; Offa : the face of power 780-787 ; Offa : war by other means 788-796 -- Chronology III: 798-918. Cœnwulf : high tide 796-821 ; Ceolwulf to ¥ºelflµd : all the king's horses 821-918 -- Acknowledgments -- Bibliography -- Endnotes -- Image credits -- Index.