11 Facts About Berhtwald

Berhtwald was the ninth Archbishop of Canterbury in England.

Berhtwald begins the first continuous series of native-born Archbishops of Canterbury, although there had been previous Anglo-Saxon archbishops, they did not succeed each other until Berhtwald's successor Tatwine.

Berhtwald was the recipient of the first surviving letter close in Western Europe.

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

Berhtwald went to the continent for consecration probably because he feared that his election was not supported by all of the kings and bishops.

Berhtwald appears to have been involved in the governance of the church, establishing the bishopric of Sherborne in Wessex and it was during his tenure that Sussex, the last pagan kingdom in England, was converted to Christianity.

Berhtwald was a proponent of his predecessor's view of the archbishops of Canterbury as primates of the entire island of Britain.

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.

Berhtwald was opposed to Wilfrid's desire to restore some separated bishoprics to the bishopric of York as well as regaining his old see.

Berhtwald inherited the dispute and presided at the Council of Austerfield in 702, at which Wilfrid's biographer relates the story that King Aldfrith of Northumbria, Berhtwald, and the other enemies of Wilfrid conspired to deprive Wilfrid of all his offices and possessions.

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.