The entry for 827 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which lists the eight bretwaldas
Bretwalda (also brytenwalda and bretenanwealda, sometimes capitalised) is an Old English word. The first record comes from the late 9th-century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It is given to some of the rulers of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms from the 5th century onwards who had achieved overlordship of some or all of the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. It is unclear whether the word dates back to the 5th century and was used by the kings themselves or whether it is a later, 9th-century, invention. The term bretwalda also appears in a 10th-century charter of Æthelstan. The literal meaning of the word is disputed and may translate to either 'wide-ruler' or 'Britain-ruler'.
The rulers of Mercia were generally the most powerful of the Anglo-Saxon kings from the mid 7th century to the early 9th century but are not accorded the title of bretwalda by the Chronicle, which had an anti-Mercian bias. The Annals of Wales continued to recognise the kings of Northumbria as "Kings of the Saxons" until the death of Osred I of Northumbria in 716.
Bretwalda (also brytenwalda and bretenanwealda, sometimes capitalised) is an Old English word. The first record comes from the late 9th-century Anglo-Saxon...
portal History of Anglo-Saxon England Cornovii (Cornish) Related terms: Bretwalda, High King for hegemons among kings Compare: Tetrarchy Five Burghs Pounds...
Britain. In the 9th-century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle he is referred to as a Bretwalda. Adomnán describes Oswald as "ordained by God as Emperor of all Britain"...
children's stories. Matthews is the editorial director and a shareholder of Bretwalda Books. Matthews has also run an online course about the paranormal for...
the rival kingdom of Northumbria around 616, and its King Rædwald was Bretwalda (overlord of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms). However, this did not last; the...
of Wessex Born: 847–849 October 26 Regnal titles Preceded by Æthelred Bretwalda 871–899 Last holder King of the West Saxons 871–c. 886 Became king of...
was installed as king of Northumbria, effectively confirming Rædwald as bretwalda: Æthelfrith's sons went into exile in Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata and...
imperium, or overlordship; only one king of Wessex, Ceawlin, is listed as Bretwalda, and none from Mercia, though elsewhere he acknowledges the secular power...
Essex submit to Wessex, and East Anglia acknowledges Egbert as overlord (bretwalda). King Hywel ap Rhodri of Gwynedd dies after an 11-year reign. The kingdom...
Studies Association. Etheridge, Bill (2014). The Rise of UKIP. Epsom: Bretwalda Books. ISBN 978-1-909698-33-8. Evans, Geoffrey; Mellon, Jon (2016). "Working...
who had become not only ruler of the newly unified Northumbria, but bretwalda, or high king, over the southern kingdoms. When another Northumbrian king...
of the Britons" in the 11th century to "Prince of Wales" in the 13th. Bretwalda List of legendary kings of Britain Pendragon Stuart Laycock (2008). Britannia:...
powerful king among the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms might become acknowledged as Bretwalda, a high king over the other kings. The decline of Mercia allowed Wessex...
Romano-British and Celts defeat an Anglo-Saxon army, that may have been led by the bretwalda Aelle of Sussex or possibly Cerdic of Wessex (approximate date; suggested...
and the modern Welsh Prydain. In the 9th century the associated terms Bretwalda and Brytenwealda were applied to some Anglo-Saxon kings to assert a wider...
Legendary kings of Britain List of British monarchs, since 1707 England Bretwaldas / Heptarchy Angles Bernicia Deira East Anglia Elmet Essex Hwicce Isle...
than king). Alternative successions of the English and British crown Bretwalda Demise of the Crown Heptarchy History of monarchy in the United Kingdom...
uncertain. The earliest recorded king of Kent was Æthelberht, who, as bretwalda, wielded significant influence over other Anglo-Saxon kings in the late...
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