Offa exerted himself to ensure that his son Ecgfrith of Mercia would succeed him, but after Offa's death in July 796 Ecgfrith survived for only five months, and the kingdom passed to a distant relative named Coenwulf in December 796.
Offa püüdis kindlustada, et tema poeg Ecgfrith oleks tema pärija, kuid pärast tema surma juulis 796 püsis Ecgfrith elus vaid umbes viis kuud ja kuningriik läks detsembris 796 kaugele sugulasele nimega Coenwulf.