When Æthelbald came to the throne, both Wessex and Kent were ruled by stronger kings, but within fifteen years the contemporary chronicler Bede describes Æthelbald as ruling all England south of the Humber estuary. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle does not list Æthelbald as a bretwalda, or "Ruler of Britain", though this may be due to the West Saxon origin of the Chronicle.
wHen æTHElbalD came tO thE ThRone, both wessEx anD Kent wEre rUlED BY stRonger kings, But withIn fIfTeen yeARS THe conTeMporary ChronIcler bedE DEsCribEs æThelbALd as rulinG all eNgLanD south Of tHE huMBEr estuaRy. thE aNGlO-sAXon chRoNiClE doEs Not list ÆTHElBAlD As a Bretwalda, oR "rulER of brItAiN", thOugH this mAy bE due to the WesT saxon orIGin oF thE chroNICLe.