Bretwalda
a title assigned by the Saxon chronicle to those kings of the Heptarchy who extended their government over the entire nation. The following are mentioned by Bede, but Hallam and other historians doubt whether any sovereign in those early times possessed such authority: A. D. 492, Ella King of Sussex; 571, Ceawlin, King of Wessex; 594, Ethelbert, King of Kent; 615, Redwald, King of West Angles; 623, Edwin, King of Deira; 634, Oswald, King of Bernicia; 643, Oswy, King of Bernicia.