The title of Bretwalda was one given to some of the kings of the kingdoms of England in the second half of the first millennium AD. Such a king was considered to be the overlord of all of England. The title was not inherited, but rather given to whichever king was considered the most powerful at the moment; often there was no Bretwalda. The word is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Bretanwealda, "Lord of Britain" or perhaps "wide-ruling". Although the Bretwalda was often considered to be the king of all or most of England, he probably was more a primus inter pares than an actual overlord to the other English kings. Thus, it was more a (very prestigious) title of honor than an actual official title with corresponding powers.
Two lists of kings that deserved this title have survived, one by Bede (died 735), and one in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle from the 10th century.
- Ælle of Sussex (477-circa 514)
- Ceawlin of Wessex (560-591)
- Ethelbert of Kent (591-616)
- Raedwald of East Anglia (616-627)
- Edwin of Deira (627-632)
- Oswald of Bernicia (633-641)
- Oswiu of Northumbria (641-670)
- Ethelbald of Mercia (circa 735-757)
- Offa of Mercia (757-796)
- Egbert of Wessex (829-839)
- Ethelwulf of Wessex (839-855)
- Ethelbald of Wessex (855-860)
- Ethelbert of Wessex (860-866)
- Ethelred of Wessex (866-871)
- Alfred the Great of Wessex (871-899)