Berhtwald

Berhtwald
Berhtwald
Roman Catholic Church, Pre-Congregation

Berhtwald^[a] (died 731) was the ninth Archbishop of Canterbury in England. Documentary evidence names Berhtwald as abbot at Reculver before his election as archbishop. Berhtwald begins the first continuous series of native-born Archbishops of Canterbury, although there had been previous Anglo-Saxon archbishops, they had not succeeded each other until Berhtwald's reign.

Berhtwald's period as archbishop coincided with the end of Wilfrid's long struggle to regain the Bishopric of York, and the two-year delay between Theodore's death and Berhtwald's election may have been due to efforts to select Wilfrid for Canterbury. After his election, Berhtwald went to Gaul for consecration and then presided over two councils that attempted to settle the Wilfrid issue, finally succeeding at the second council in 705. Berhtwald also was the recipient of the first surviving letter close in Western Europe.

Early life

Little is known of Berhtwald's ancestry or his early life, but he was born around the middle of the seventh century.

Anglo-Saxon charter.^[2]

Election as archbishop

The

Swaefheard raided and plundered Kent. Eventually, Wihtred secured the throne, around 691 or early 692, as Bede names Wihtred as King of Kent, along with Swaefheard, at the time of Berhtwald's election. Swaerfheard, however, is not named as king of Kent after this date.^[5]

The vacancy may also have occurred because Wilfrid, who was at that point having problems in Northumbria, desired to become Archbishop of Canterbury. A contemporary biographer of Wilfrid,

Canterbury-York dispute. Historians have since come to regard the two letters as genuine. Sergius also gave Berhtwald a pallium, the symbol of an archbishop's authority.^[2]

Archbishop

Berhtwald appears to have been involved in the governance of the church, establishing the bishopric of

Bishop of Selsey. During his time in office, King Wihtred of Kent in the Law of Wihtred exempted the church from taxation.^[8] Berhtwald was a proponent of his predecessor's view of the archbishops of Canterbury as primates of the entire island of Britain.^[9] Berhtwald co-operated closely with Wihtred in the kingdom, and secured the exemption of the church from taxation under Wihtred's laws issued in 695. The law code also dealt with other ecclesiastical matters, including marriage, Sunday observance, and pagan worship.^[10] This law code resulted from a royal council that was held at Bearsted. Further privileges for the church were issued in 699, and may have been composed by Berhtwald before being promulgated. Another privilege, usually referred to as the "Privilege of Wihtred", is claimed to be a grant from Wihtred to the monasteries of Kent of exemption from non-clerical control. However, this is actually a ninth-century forgery.^[2]

Much of Berhtwald's time in office coincided with the efforts of Wilfrid to regain the see of York, and to reverse the division of York into smaller dioceses. Berhtwald was opposed to Wilfrid's desire to restore some separated bishoprics to the bishopric of York as well as regaining his old see.

Ripon and cease acting as a bishop. Wilfrid rejected this compromise and once more appealed to the pope. Three years later, at a further Council, it was arranged that Wilfrid should receive the Bishopric of Hexham in place of that of York.^[4] This was the Council of Nidd, usually dated to 706, and it was held in Northumbria.^[12] Bede also mentions that Berhtwald consecrated a number of bishops, including Tobias as Bishop of Rochester.^[13]

One of Berhtwald's letters has been preserved, sent to Forthhere, Bishop of Sherborne, and asking Forthhere to intercede with Beorwold, the Abbot of Glastonbury, to ransom a slave. Another letter, this one addressed to Berhtwald, from Waldhere, Bishop of London, also survives. The main interest in the second letter is that it is the oldest surviving letter close in Western Europe.^[2] This second letter also relates that Waldhere and Berhtwald had attended a synod which can be dated to sometime between 703 and 705, where the kingdom of Wessex was threatened with excommunication.^[14] A charter witnessed by Berhtwald which mentions a supposed 706 council, numbered 54 by Sawyer, is now known to be a fake, although the witness list may be based on a legitimate 8th century charter that no longer survives.^[15] Likewise, a charter with Berhtwald as a witness and relating to the 716 Council of Clofesho is also known to be a 9th-century forgery, although again it may have been based on actual documents from the council.^[16]

Death and legacy

Berhtwald died on 13 January 731.

canonised with a feast day of 9 January.^[19] Little evidence of extensive cult activity exists, however, and the main evidence for his sainthood is a late medieval entry in a St Augustine's calendar.^[1] Berhtwald is the first of the continuous series of native-born archbishops in England, although there had been two previous Anglo-Saxon archbishops at Canterbury—Deusdedit and Wighard.^[20]

Notes

^ Also Brihtwald,^[2] Beorhtweald,^[1] Bertwald, Berthwald, Beorhtwald, or Beretuald

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Farmer Oxford Dictionary of Saints p. 55
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stephens "Berhtwald" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 104
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Brooks Early History of the Church of Canterbury pp. 76–80
^ Kirby Earliest English Kings pp. 104–105
^ ^a ^b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 213
^ Bede History of the English Church and People p. 282
^ ^a ^b Stenton Anglo-Saxon England pp. 142–145
^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 18
^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 105
^ John Reassessing Anglo-Saxon England pp. 33–35
^ Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 290
^ Higham (Re-)reading Bede p. 175
^ Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 260
^ Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 262
^ Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 264
^ Lapidge "Berhtwald" Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England
^ Blair "Handlist of Anglo-Saxon Saints" Local Saints and Local Churches p. 517
^ Delaney Dictionary of Saints p. 90
^ Blair Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England p. 142

References

ISBN 0-14-044042-9
.

Blair, John (2002). "A Handlist of Anglo-Saxon Saints". In Thacker, Alan;
ISBN 0-19-820394-2
.

ISBN 0-521-53777-0
.

ISBN 0-7185-0041-5
.

Cubitt, Catherine (1995). Anglo-Saxon Church Councils c.650-c.850. London: Leicester University Press.
ISBN 0-7185-1436-X
.

Delaney, John P. (1980). Dictionary of Saints (Second ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
ISBN 0-385-13594-7
.

Farmer, David Hugh (2004). Oxford Dictionary of Saints (Fifth ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
ISBN 978-0-19-860949-0
.

Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
ISBN 0-521-56350-X
.

Higham, N. J. (2006). (Re-)reading Bede: The Ecclesiastical History in Context. New York: Routledge.
ISBN 0-415-35368-8
.

John, Eric (1996). Reassessing Anglo-Saxon England. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press.
ISBN 0-7190-5053-7
.

Kirby, D. P. (2000). The Earliest English Kings. New York: Routledge.
ISBN 0-415-24211-8
.

ISBN 978-0-631-22492-1
.

ISBN 978-0-19-280139-5
.

Stephens, W. R. W.; Leyser, Henrietta (revised) (2004). "Berhtwald (c.650–731)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press.
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3430. Retrieved 15 October 2010.(subscription or UK public library membership
required)

External links

Beorhtwald 6 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England

Christian titles
Preceded by Theodore of Tarsus	Archbishop of Canterbury 693–731	Succeeded by Tatwine

[3] Also Brihtwald,^[2] Beorhtweald,^[1] Bertwald, Berthwald, Beorhtwald, or Beretuald

[ODS55-1] Farmer Oxford Dictionary of Saints p. 55

[DNB-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stephens "Berhtwald" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

[Kirby104-4] Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 104

[Brooks76-5] Brooks Early History of the Church of Canterbury pp. 76–80

[Kirby104a-6] Kirby Earliest English Kings pp. 104–105

[Handbook213-7] Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 213

[Bede282-8] Bede History of the English Church and People p. 282

[ASE142-9] Stenton Anglo-Saxon England pp. 142–145

[Kirby18-10] Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 18

[Kirby105-11] Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 105

[John33-12] John Reassessing Anglo-Saxon England pp. 33–35

[Councils290-13] Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 290

[Read175-14] Higham (Re-)reading Bede p. 175

[Councils260-15] Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 260

[Councils262-16] Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 262

[Councils264-17] Cubitt Anglo-Saxon Church Councils p. 264

[ASE-18] Lapidge "Berhtwald" Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England

[Blair517-19] Blair "Handlist of Anglo-Saxon Saints" Local Saints and Local Churches p. 517

[DictSaint-20] Delaney Dictionary of Saints p. 90

[Intro142-21] Blair Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England p. 142

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v t e Archbishops of Canterbury
List of archbishops of Canterbury
Pre-Conquest	Augustine Laurence Mellitus Justus Honorius Deusdedit Wighard Theodore of Tarsus Berhtwald Tatwine Nothhelm Cuthbert Bregowine Jænberht Æthelhard Wulfred Feologild Ceolnoth Æthelred Plegmund Athelm Wulfhelm Oda Ælfsige Byrhthelm Dunstan Æthelgar Sigeric Ælfric of Abingdon Ælfheah Lyfing Æthelnoth Eadsige Robert of Jumièges Stigand
Conquest to Reformation	Lanfranc Anselm Ralph d'Escures William de Corbeil Theobald of Bec Thomas Becket Roger de Bailleul Richard of Dover Baldwin of Forde Reginald Fitz Jocelin Hubert Walter Reginald John de Gray Stephen Langton Walter d'Eynsham Richard le Grant Ralph Neville John of Sittingbourne John Blund Edmund of Abingdon Boniface William Chillenden Robert Kilwardby Robert Burnell John Peckham Robert Winchelsey Thomas Cobham Walter Reynolds Simon Mepeham John de Stratford John de Ufford Thomas Bradwardine Simon Islip William Edington Simon Langham William Whittlesey Simon Sudbury William Courtenay Thomas Arundel Roger Walden Thomas Arundel Henry Chichele John Stafford John Kemp Thomas Bourchier John Morton Thomas Langton Henry Deane William Warham Thomas Cranmer Reginald Pole
Post-Reformation	Matthew Parker Edmund Grindal John Whitgift Richard Bancroft George Abbot William Laud Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) William Juxon Gilbert Sheldon William Sancroft John Tillotson Thomas Tenison William Wake John Potter Thomas Herring Matthew Hutton Thomas Secker Frederick Cornwallis John Moore Charles Manners-Sutton William Howley John Bird Sumner Charles Longley Archibald Campbell Tait Edward White Benson Frederick Temple Randall Davidson Cosmo Lang William Temple Geoffrey Fisher Michael Ramsey Donald Coggan Robert Runcie George Carey Rowan Williams Justin Welby
Italics indicate a person who was elected but not confirmed.

v t e Saints of Anglo-Saxon England
British / Welsh	Aldate of Oxford Barloc of Norbury Brannoc of Braunton Branwalator of Milton Credan of Bodmin Congar of Congresbury Dachuna of Bodmin Decuman of Watchet Elfin of Warrington Ivo of Ramsey Judoc of Winchester Melorius of Amesbury Nectan of Hartland Neot of Cornwall Patrick of Glastonbury Rumon of Tavistock Samson of Dol Sativola of Exeter
East Anglian	Æthelberht of East Anglia Æthelburh of Faremoutiers Æthelflæd of Ramsey Æthelthryth of Ely Æthelwine of Lindsey Athwulf of Thorney Blida of Martham Botwulf of Thorney Cissa of Crowland Cuthbald of Peterborough Eadmund of East Anglia Eadnoth of Ramsey Guthlac of Crowland Herefrith of Thorney Hiurmine of Blythburgh Huna of Thorney Pega of Peakirk Seaxburh of Ely Sigeberht of East Anglia Tancred of Thorney Torthred of Thorney Tova of Thorney Walstan of Bawburgh Wendreda Wihtburh of Ely Wulfric of Holme
East Saxon	Æthelburh of Barking Hildelith of Barking Osgyth Sæbbi of London
Frisian, Frankish and Old Saxon	Balthild of Romsey Bertha of Kent Felix of Dommoc Helier of Jersey Grimbald of St Bertin Monegunda of Watton Odwulf of Evesham Wulfram of Grantham
Irish and Scottish	Aidan of Lindisfarne Boisil of Melrose Echa of Crayke Ultan the Scribe Indract of Glastonbury Maildub of Malmesbury
Kentish	Æbbe of Thanet (Domne Eafe) Æthelberht of Kent Æthelburh of Kent Æthelred of Kent Albinus of Canterbury Berhtwald of Canterbury Deusdedit of Canterbury Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet Eanswith of Folkestone Eormengyth of Thanet Mildrith of Thanet Nothhelm of Canterbury Sigeburh of Thanet
Mercian	Ælfnoth of Stowe Ælfthryth of Crowland Æthelberht of Bedford Æthelmod of Leominster Æthelred of Mercia Æthelwynn of Sodbury Aldwyn of Coln Beonna of Breedon Beorhthelm of Stafford Coenwulf of Mercia Cotta of Breedon Credan of Evesham Cyneburh of Castor Cyneburh of Gloucester Cynehelm of Winchcombe Cyneswith of Peterborough Eadburh of Bicester Eadburh of Pershore Eadburh of Southwell Eadgyth of Aylesbury Eadweard of Maugersbury Ealdgyth of Stortford Earconwald of London Egwin of Evesham Freomund of Mercia Frithuric of Breedon Frithuswith of Oxford Frithuwold of Chertsey Hæmma of Leominster Merefin Mildburh of Wenlock Mildgyth Mildrith of Thanet Milred of Worcester Oda of Canterbury Oswald of Worcester Osburh of Coventry Regenhere of Northampton Rumbold of Buckingham Tibba of Ryhall Werburgh of Chester Wærstan Wigstan of Repton Wulfhild of Barking
Northumbrian	Acca of Hexham Æbbe "the Elder" of Coldingham Æbbe "the Younger" of Coldingham Ælfflæd of Whitby Ælfwald of Northumbria Æthelburh of Hackness Æthelgyth of Coldingham Æthelsige of Ripon Æthelwold of Farne Æthelwold of Lindisfarne Alchhild of Middleham Alchmund of Hexham Alkmund of Derby Balthere of Tyningham Beda of Jarrow Bega of Copeland Benedict Biscop Bercthun of Beverley Billfrith of Lindisfarne Bosa of York Botwine of Ripon Ceadda of Lichfield Cedd of Lichfield Ceolfrith of Monkwearmouth Ceolwulf of Northumbria Cuthbert of Durham Dryhthelm of Melrose Eadberht of Lindisfarne Eadfrith of Leominster Eadfrith of Lindisfarne Eadwine of Northumbria Ealdberht of Ripon Eanmund Eardwulf of Northumbria Eata of Hexham Ecgberht of Ripon Eoda Eosterwine of Monkwearmouth Hilda of Whitby Hyglac Iwig of Wilton John of Beverley Osana of Howden Osthryth of Bardney Oswald of Northumbria Oswine of Northumbria Sicgred of Ripon Sigfrith of Monkwearmouth Tatberht of Ripon Wihtberht of Ripon Wilfrith of Hexham Wilfrith II Wilgils of Ripon
Roman	Augustine of Canterbury Firmin of North Crawley Birinus of Dorchester Blaise Florentius of Peterborough Hadrian of Canterbury Honorius of Canterbury James the Deacon Justus of Canterbury Laurence of Canterbury Mellitus of Canterbury Paulinus of York Peter of Canterbury Theodore of Canterbury
South Saxon	Cuthflæd of Lyminster Cuthmann of Steyning Lewina of Bishopstone
West Saxon	Æbbe of Abingdon Ælfgar of Selwood Ælfgifu of Exeter Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury Ælfheah of Canterbury Ælfheah of Winchester Æthelflæd of Romsey Æthelgar of Canterbury Æthelnoth of Canterbury Æthelwine of Athelney Æthelwold of Winchester Aldhelm of Sherborne Benignus of Glastonbury Beocca of Chertsey Beorhthelm of Shaftesbury Beornstan of Winchester Beornwald of Bampton Centwine of Wessex Cuthburh of Wimborn Cwenburh of Wimborne Dunstan of Canterbury Eadburh of Winchester Eadgar of England Eadgyth of Polesworth Eadgyth of Wilton Eadweard the Confessor Eadweard the Martyr Eadwold of Cerne Earmund of Stoke Fleming Edor of Chertsey Evorhilda Frithestan of Winchester Hædde of Winchester Humbert of Stokenham Hwita of Whitchurch Canonicorum Mærwynn of Romsey Margaret of Dunfermline Swithhun of Winchester Wulfsige of Sherborne Wulfthryth of Wilton
Unclear origin	Arilda of Oldbury Juthwara of Sherbourne Rumbold of Mechlin Urith of Chittlehampton

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