Bayeux Tapestry

One of the greatest tapestries in the High Middle Ages. Created by the Norman Conquest of England running 230 feet long by 20 inches high. The Bayeux Tapestry weaves an understanding of the events towards the Battle of Hastings, what occurred, and what happened subsequently after. Showing the events of both the Duke of Normandy, William. And Harold Godwinson, The Confessor of England, Edward's Brother-in-Law that eventually lead to the Battle of Hastings. A fight between the Normans and Anglo-Saxons that would change Britain around 1066 AD. Without this piece of artwork, we wouldn’t have a great sense of how the High middle ages were during such time, or even how the Battle of Hastings occurred. The book by R. Howard Block names “A Needle

Of what it means, and the history behind it.

The beginning of the tapestry shows us both Edward the Confessor of England and his brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson. As shown by Edwards body posture and eyes close up. He is shown as frail. And with other accounting, we know that he has never been well as if he has been sick most of his life. They are shown within Edward’s court being sat in the middle. The conversation to which we believe was exchanged between them was possibly about royal succession. Since Harold would eventually be king, as well as Edward and his wife not giving birth to any successors. After such, it’s shown that Harold enjoys a feast then boards a ship along with some of his troops. Which leads to many questions regarding his initial reason to why he did get on a boat. Oreric’s contemporary Edmer of Canterbury states that Harold was wanting to release his brother Wulfnoth and his nephew Hakon, from the Norman court. Or

And were approaching rapidly. Harold knew these lands more than William, and he understood such. So for the night, he told his troops to be on high alert, leading many to not sleep during the night. At sunrise, William got dressed for his battle, with his half-brothers, Bishop Odo of Bayeux and Count Robert of Mortain. He set off to his position and with his last words to his army he stated “Raise your standards, men, and let there be no measure or moderation to your righteous anger. Let the lightning of your glory be seen from the east to the west, let the thunder of your charge be heard, and may you be the avengers of most noble blood.” (4). The battle started from a small intervene from Taillefer, a poet. Charging in and taking the head from one of the Anglo-Saxon’s ax bearers and singing how they would lose. To which then he quickly perished and the skirmish started. The fight at first was leaning more on Harold. William’s forces had no time to move quickly to their positions from the immediate attack. His forces, with morals, low believed that within the chaos that William was dead within this first clash. William, however, hearing such knew that he needed to think of a situation to change the tides of battle. So as shown in the tapestry. He is shown joining his troops which are fleeing, raising his visor to show that there Duke was still alive and yelled