Noun
The official title applied to that one of the Anglo-Saxon chieftains who was chosen by the other chiefs to lead them in their warfare against the British tribes.
Source: Webster's dictionaryBruce-Mitford, Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology: Sutton Hoo and other discoveries, p. 73 Yorke suggests that the treasures buried with the ship reflect the size of the tribute paid to Rædwald by subject kings during his period as bretwalda. Source: Internet
At some point Ceawlin ceased to hold the title of bretwalda, perhaps after a battle at Stoke Lyne, in Oxfordshire, which the Chronicle dates to 584, some eight years before he was deposed in 592 (again using the Chronicle's unreliable dating). Source: Internet
The Chronicle also records that these kings held the title "bretwalda", or "Britain-ruler". Source: Internet
One unusual item was a large ' sceptre ' in the form of a whetstone that showed no sign of previous use as a tool: it has been suggested that this was a symbol of the office of bretwalda. Source: Internet
He argued that the term bretwalda "falls into line with the other evidence which points to the Germanic origin of the earliest English institutions". Source: Internet
He must have reigned for some time after Æthelberht died, in order for him to have been noted as a bretwalda. Source: Internet