So altogether the reign of Ecgberht was very like the reign of Charles on a small scale.

Ecgberht made the West-Saxons the first people in Britain, much as Charles made the Franks the first people on the mainland of Europe.

Even Ecgberht being called Bretwalda was something like Charles being called Emperor ; for the Bretwalda was much the same in Britain as the Emperor was in the rest of Western Europe.

But I must now tell you some of the things which happened in Ecgberhts reign rather more in order.

Ecgberhts first wars were with the Welsh of Cornwall.