8th century in England

Events from the 8th century in England.

Events 700 Osgyth, Abbess of Chich in Essex, is killed. Approximate date – Beverley Minster is founded by John of Beverley. 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. Bede completes his first chronological work. Approximate date The Diocese of Sherborne is created from part of that of Winchester with Aldhelm as first bishop. John of Beverley is elevated from Bishop of Hexham to Bishop of York. 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. Approximate date – Bishop Wilfrid dies at Oundle. 715 Approximate date – Completion of Lindisfarne Gospels. 716 Æthelbald becomes King of Mercia on the death of Ceolred, marking the beginning of that kingdom's ascendancy over the other Saxon realms. The 'Codex Amiatinus', the earliest surviving complete manuscript of the Vulgate, produced at Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey, is taken to Italy as a gift to the Pope. 721 Death of Bishop Eadfrith of Lindisfarne. 722 King Ine of Wessex fails to conquer Cornwall, being defeated at the three battles of Hehil, Garth Maelog, and Pencon. 725 23 April – King Wihtred of Kent dies leaving the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent to his three sons: Æthelberht II, Eadberht and Alric.Bede (1990). Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Translated by Leo Sherley-Price, rev. R. E. Latham, ed. D. H. Farmer. London: Penguin. . V:23. 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). 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. 26 May – death of the Venerable Bede. 736 King Æthelbald of Mercia describes himself as "King of Britain". 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. 749 Edict of Gumley: Church freed from its economic obligations to the King of Mercia. 750 King Eadberht of Northumbria invades the Kingdom of Strathclyde, capturing Kyle. 752 Battle of Beorhford: Cuthred of Wessex defeats Æthelbald of Mercia at Battle Edge, Burford, Oxfordshire. 753 Cuthred of Wessex fights the Cornish. 756 King Eadberht captures Dumbarton, capital of Strathclyde. 757 King Æthelbald of Mercia murdered; succeeded by Offa. King Sigeberht of Wessex deposed and murdered; succeeded by Cynewulf.Dated 755 in the very full entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Wat's Dyke constructed. 758 King Eadberht of Northumbria abdicates to enter a monastery at York; succeeded by his son Oswulf. 759 24 July – King Oswulf of Northumbria is murdered at Market Weighton; succeeded by Æthelwald Moll (crowned 5 August). 760 Battle of Hereford: Battle between Mercia and the Welsh; Dyfnwal ap Tewdwr dies. 26 October – death of Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Bregowine (consecrated 27 September 761). 761 6 August – Battle of Eildon: King Æthelwald Moll of Northumbria defeats and kills a rival, Oswine, in a 3-day battle in Scotland. 764 Offa conquers Kent. August – death of Bregowine, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Jænberht (consecrated 2 February 765 at Offa's court). 765 30 October  – King Æthelwald Moll of Northumbria deposed; succeeded by Alhred. 771 Offa conquers Sussex. 774 Offa first uses the title "King of the English". King Alhred of Northumbria is deposed; succeeded by Æthelred. 776 Battle of Otford: Kent expels the Mercians. 778 Offa raids Dyfed. 779 Æthelred I of Northumbria is deposed for the first time; succeeded by Ælfwald I of Northumbria 779 Hygeberht becomes Bishop of Lichfield. 784 Offa raids Wales. Construction of Offa's Dyke begins. 786 Papal legates hold councils in Mercia and Northumbria. Mercia regains control of Kent. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that King Cynewulf of Wessex is killed in a surprise attack at his mistress's house in "Meretun" by Cyneheard the Ætheling (brother of the deposed Sigeberht), who also dies in the attack; Beorhtric takes the throne. 787 Offa issues the first silver penny. At a Synod of Chelsea, Offa has his son consecrated as King; the first such ceremony in England. 788 23 September – Ælfwald I of Northumbria is murdered, probably at Chesters, by ealdorman Sicga and succeeded by his first cousin Osred II as king of Northumbria. At Offa's urging, the Pope elevates the Bishopric of Lichfield (under Hygeberht) to an Archbishopric. 789 Charlemagne establishes a trade embargo on the English after failed negotiations for his daughter to marry Offa's son. Viking activity in the British Isles: First recorded raid by Vikings on England, at Portland. 790 Æthelred is restored as king of Northumbria following the deposition of Osred II and institutes minting of the styca to replace the silver sceat. 792 12 August – death of Jænberht, Archbishop of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Æthelhard. October – Osred, the deposed king of Northumbria, returns from exile and is murdered. 793 8 June – Vikings raid Lindisfarne. 794 6 January? – Vikings raid Jarrow. 20 May – King Æthelberht II of East Anglia is beheaded on the order of King Offa of Mercia at Sutton Walls, Herefordshire. 796 18 April – Æthelred I of Northumbria is murdered at Corbridge by a group led by ealdormen Ealdred and Wada. Osbald succeeds him as king of Northumbria for 27 days before going into exile, initially in Lindisfarne. 14 May – Eardwulf succeeds as king of Northumbria. 29 July – Offa of Mercia dies having raided Dyfed and possibly fought in the Battle of Rhuddlan Marsh (perhaps against Caradog ap Meirion). He is buried, maybe at Bedford, and succeeded by his son Ecgfrith who reigns only until December; Wessex regains its independence.Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Offa's widow Cynethryth becomes abbess of Cookham Abbey. December – Ecgfrith is succeeded by Coenwulf of Mercia. Kent rebels against Mercia again. 798 Kentish rebellion suppressed. Saxons kill Caradog ap Meirion, King of Gwynedd.Annales Cambriae

Births c. 700 – Lullus, Archbishop of Mainz (d. 786)

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