Offa of Angel

The Old English poem Widsith (8th century) refers briefly to his victorious single combat, a story which is related at length by the 12th-century Danish historians Saxo and Sven Aggesen.

It is possible that the Offa mentioned in Beowulf (lines 1949 and 1957) and married to Modþryð, a lady of murderous disposition, is the same person.

The two would eventually cause great dishonour to the Angles when they ambushed Eadgils in a forest as he walked alone and slew him.

It was then that Uffi regained his speech, and revealed that his silence had been caused by the great dishonour involved in Eadgil's death.

Name spellings are derived from Oliver Elton's 1905 translation, The First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus, via Wikisource.

Wermund runs to embrace his victorious son Offa. Illustration by the Danish Lorenz Frølich in a 19th-century book.
Offa's name in Beowulf