I'd avoided the whole bretwalda question, though the claims of Athelstan and Edgar to be kings of Britain (Edgar uses basileus rather than rex, IIRC, possibly paying some tribute to Byzantine models) perhaps makes some appeal to it.
The problem with Offa is that his heirs are unable to maintain Mercian dominance or defend England against incursions by the Danes; Alfred becomes the (re)unifier and national hero.
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Date: 2008-09-03 10:38 pm (UTC)The problem with Offa is that his heirs are unable to maintain Mercian dominance or defend England against incursions by the Danes; Alfred becomes the (re)unifier and national hero.