Bayeux Tapestry: some key scenes The tapestry: background The tapestry as a source of evidence The Bayeux Tapestry commemorates the Battle of Hastings, which was fought on 14 Is the Bayeux Tapestry a reliable source of evidence about what happened? October 1066. The Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson, lost the battle to the invading On the one hand, it is a very detailed source of information about the lead-up to the William, Duke of Normandy, who became known as William the Conqueror. The Tapestry battle and the battle itself: in pictures and with words in Latin. It is usually regarded as a tells the story of William’s quest for the throne of England from 1064 to 1066. primary source, because even though it was made a few years after the event, it was A ‘tapestry’ is usually a picture of a scene woven onto thick fabric and hung on a wall. designed by eye-witnesses. For this reason, it is usually regarded as the most useful However, the Bayeux Tapestry (known in French as the Tapisserie de Bayeux) depicts a source of information available about the battle. series of 58 different scenes, embroidered with coloured wool onto one continuous piece On the other hand, the tapestry is biased towards the victors – it mostly shows the events of fabric. In fact, the tapestry is 70 metres long and 50 centimetres wide. from the perspective of the invading Normans. Many of the leading Saxons were killed at It was made by a team of expert weavers in England, probably in Kent, but it seems most the Battle of Hastings, so they did not leave their own record of what occurred. likely that the tapestry was commissioned (designed) by the Bishop of Bayeux, Bishop You can find a detailed explanation of the tapestry’s scenes on the website of another Odo. Odo was William’s half-brother, and had travelled with the Normans to fight the museum dedicated to the tapestry in England: www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/BayeuxContents.htm. A Saxons. He probably ordered the tapestry to be made to celebrate the Norman’s victory great animated version is available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtGoBZ4D4_E. and to decorate his church back home in Bayeux. The following photographs show some of the main scenes from the tapestry as they The Bayeux Tapestry is now displayed in a special, climate-controlled case in a museum in appear today in the museum in France. The captions were written by experts. the town of Bayeux in Normandy (France). The museum’s website is: www.tapestry- bayeux.com/en/la_tapisserie_de_bayeux_en.html Other primary sources Monks wrote the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which described some of the events of 1066, but without much detail: see http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/ang11.asp. William de Poitiers was one of William’s knights, and later his chaplain. He wrote books about his lord’s deeds. Only parts of his book called Gesta Guillelmi survive, but they do describe the battle, including details of the weapons and tactics of each side and the infamous ‘feigned retreat’, e.g.: ‘The blowing of trumpets announced the start of the battle on both sides. Eager and brave Normans were the first to attack. The English threw javelins and missiles of all sorts, dealing out savage blows with their axes.’ ‘The English were helped by the advantage of their high position which, massed tightly together they held without attempting to advance. The weapons which they fought with easily cut through shields and other protective armour.’ ‘The Normans imaged their Duke was dead, but he rushed after them and showed his face. “Look at me!” he shouted, “I’m still alive.”’ ‘They withdrew, pretending to turn in flight. Some thousand or more of the English rushed forward; suddenly the Normans turned their horses, cut off the force which was pursuing them, encircled them and massacred them to the last man. Twice the Normans used this trick with equal success.’ 1. Journey to Normandy (1): It is 1064. In the Royal Palace of Westminster Edward the Confessor, King of England since 1042, is talking to his brother-in-law Harold, Earl of Wessex. After this Harold, holding a hawk, makes for the south coast with his followers and hunting dogs. They are heading for Bosham in Sussex, Harold’s family estate. Next they will set sail across the English channel to Normandy. 2. Journey to Normandy: Harold’s ship is driven off course. From the mast a lookout spies land. It is Ponthieu, north of Normandy, the territory of the fierce Count Guy. Harold is shown twice. At the left he stands on the ship, ready to land. As soon as he climbs down, he is seized as a prisoner by the soldiers of Count Guy of Normandy, who directs operations from horseback. 3. William, Duke of Normandy and overlord of Count Guy, orders Count Guy to release William. William and Harold ride with soldiers to Williams’s palace at Rouen (Now William has the hawk!). William sits while Harold talks to him. 4. Brothers in Arms: Harold accompanies William and the Norman soldiers as they set off to fight Duke Conan of Brittany. They pass Mont St. Michel, which is on the border between Normandy and Brittany. To get into Brittany they have to cross the river. They hold their shields above their heads to keep them out of the water. Some soldiers sink into quicksand and Harold rescues them - two at a time! 5. William becomes Harold’s overlord: The Oath: After fighting together to defeat Conan, the Duke of Brittany, William honours Harold. Harold swears a solemn oath on holy relics. Was Harold promising to support William? Harold is at last set free, and sails back to England. 6. The King is Dead: Edward died on the 5th January 1066. His funeral is at Westminster Abbey, his great new church. In the upper chamber King Edward is in his bed talking to his faithful followers, including Harold and Queen Edith - below he is shown dead with a priest in attendance. Two noblemen offer Harold the crown and axe, symbols of royal authority, that will make him King. He accepts the offer and is crowned the King. 7. Planning the Invasion (1): News of Edward's death and Harold’s coronation is carried across the channel to William, Duke of Normandy. William is furious - he claimed that the throne of England should be his and saw Harold as a usurper. William decides to attack England and organises a fleet of warships. To his left sits Bishop Odo of Bayeux, his half-brother, making his first appearance in the tapestry. 8. Planning the Invasion (3): Food and drink are taken to the boats. So are weapons: coats of chain mail, helmets, swords and lances. 9. Beachhead (1): They reach the south coast of England on 28 September and land at Pevensey. Soldiers ride off towards Hastings and gather food. 10. Beachhead (2): A feast is prepared in the open air - chickens on skewers, a stew cooked over an open fire and food from an outdoor oven. William sits down to a feast with his nobles and Bishop Odo says grace. 11. Beachhead (3): Duke William appears in discussion with his half brothers Odo and Robert, Count of Mortain. A motte, a type of castle, is built to strengthen the Norman invaders' base at Hastings. A messenger brings William news of Harold and his army. On the right a woman and her child flee from a burning house. 12. William Rides to War (1): On the morning of the battle, 14th October 1066, William, in full armour, is about to mount his horse. William’s Norman cavalry gallops off to face Harold’s English soldiers. 13. William Rides to War (2): William is shown twice: first on a dark horse at the head of his troops; then immediately to the right asking Vital (one of Odo’s followers) if the enemy has been seen yet. 14. William Rides to War (3): The scene changes to the English side. A look-out warns Harold that the Norman army is approaching. Back on the Norman side: William, mace in hand, gives a speech to encourage his soldiers. 15. The Battle of Hastings (1): The Normans charge and the Battle of Hastings has begun. 16. The Battle of Hastings (2): As the air fills with arrows and lances, men lie dying. The English soldiers, who are all on foot, protect themselves with a wall of shields. The Normans attack from both sides. The lower border of the tapestry is filled with dead and injured soldiers. 17. The Battle of Hastings (3): The violence continues as men hack and spear each other to death. Harold’s brothers both die fighting. 18. The Battle of Hastings (4): The battle rages on; men and horses crash to the ground, the lower border is strewn with slaughtered troops and animals. Bishop Odo appears in the thick of the fighting waving a club rather than a sword as bishops were not supposed to shed blood. After a fall from his horse, William raises his helmet to reveal his face. This shows his troops that he is still alive and encourages them to continue fighting. Count Eustace carries an elaborate banner, which may be the one given by the Pope to show his support for William’s invasion of England. 19. The Battle of Hastings (5): The battle rages on and the Normans are getting the upper hand. The Norman archers are featured in the lower border.