Bayeux Tapestry

From New World Encyclopedia
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===Halley's Comet===
 
===Halley's Comet===
 
[[Image:Tapestry of bayeux10.jpg|thumb|right|Halley's Comet]]
 
[[Image:Tapestry of bayeux10.jpg|thumb|right|Halley's Comet]]
[[Image:Comete Tapisserie Bayeux.jpg|thumb|150px|Detail of Halley's Comet]]
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[[Image:Comete Tapisserie Bayeux.jpg|thumb|150px|center|Detail of Halley's Comet]]
 
A star with streaming hair then appears: [[Comet Halley|Halley's Comet]]. The first appearance of the comet would have been April 24, nearly four months after Harold's coronation. Comets, in the beliefs of the [[Middle Ages]], warned of impending doom. The news of Harold's coronation is taken to Normandy, where William then builds a fleet of ships. The invaders reach England, and land unopposed. William orders his men to find food, and a meal is cooked. A house is burnt, which may indicate some ravaging of the local countryside on the part of the invaders. News is brought to William, possibly about Harold's victory in the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]], although the Tapestry does not specify this. The Normans build a mote and bailey (wall) to defend their position. Messengers are sent between the two armies, and William makes a speech to prepare his army for battle.
 
A star with streaming hair then appears: [[Comet Halley|Halley's Comet]]. The first appearance of the comet would have been April 24, nearly four months after Harold's coronation. Comets, in the beliefs of the [[Middle Ages]], warned of impending doom. The news of Harold's coronation is taken to Normandy, where William then builds a fleet of ships. The invaders reach England, and land unopposed. William orders his men to find food, and a meal is cooked. A house is burnt, which may indicate some ravaging of the local countryside on the part of the invaders. News is brought to William, possibly about Harold's victory in the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]], although the Tapestry does not specify this. The Normans build a mote and bailey (wall) to defend their position. Messengers are sent between the two armies, and William makes a speech to prepare his army for battle.
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[[Image:Bayeux Tapestry.Shields.jpg|thumb|150px|Unadorned shields used in battle]]
  
 
The [[Battle of Hastings]] was fought on October 14, 1066. The English fight on foot behind a [[shield wall]], while the Normans are on horses. The first to fall are named [[Leofwine Godwinson]] and [[Gyrth Godwinson]], Harold's brothers. Bishop Odo also appears in battle. The section depicting the death of Harold can be interpreted in different ways, as the name "Harold" appears above a lengthy death scene, making it difficult to identify which character is Harold. It is traditionally believed that Harold is the figure with the arrow in his eye. But he could also be the figure just before with a spear through his chest, the character just after with his legs hacked off, or could indeed have suffered all three fates or none of them. The English then flee the field.
 
The [[Battle of Hastings]] was fought on October 14, 1066. The English fight on foot behind a [[shield wall]], while the Normans are on horses. The first to fall are named [[Leofwine Godwinson]] and [[Gyrth Godwinson]], Harold's brothers. Bishop Odo also appears in battle. The section depicting the death of Harold can be interpreted in different ways, as the name "Harold" appears above a lengthy death scene, making it difficult to identify which character is Harold. It is traditionally believed that Harold is the figure with the arrow in his eye. But he could also be the figure just before with a spear through his chest, the character just after with his legs hacked off, or could indeed have suffered all three fates or none of them. The English then flee the field.
[[Image:Bayeux Tapestry.Shields.jpg|thumb|150px|Unadorned shields used in battle]]
+
 
 
At the time of the [[Norman conquest of England]], modern [[heraldry]] had not yet been developed. The knights in the Bayeux Tapestry carry shields, but there appears to have been no system of hereditary [[coats of arms]]. The beginnings of modern heraldic structure were in place, but would not become standard until the middle of the 12th century.
 
At the time of the [[Norman conquest of England]], modern [[heraldry]] had not yet been developed. The knights in the Bayeux Tapestry carry shields, but there appears to have been no system of hereditary [[coats of arms]]. The beginnings of modern heraldic structure were in place, but would not become standard until the middle of the 12th century.
  

Revision as of 19:34, 5 January 2009

William the Conqueror, star of the Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry (French: Tapisserie de Bayeux) is a 50 cm by 70 m (20 in by 230 ft) long embroidered cloth, done in painstaking detail, which depicts the events leading up to the 1066 Norman invasion of England as well as the events of the invasion itself. It was supposed to legitimize the Norman power in England. The Tapestry is annotated in Latin. It is presently exhibited in a special museum in Bayeux, Normandy, France, with a Victorian replica in Reading, Berkshire, England. Originally thought to have been created by Queen Matilda, William the Conqueror's wife, and her ladies-in-waiting, it is now thought to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo, William's half brother at Kent, the territory then under Odo's control, and created at the same time as the cathedral at Bayeux was being built. It includes images of Halley's comet.

The tapestry is valued as a work of art, yet it is also valued concerning the history of the Norman Conquest, and Harold’s relation to William before 1066. The storyline appears straightforward and authentic even with some obscurities and "mysteries." Decorative borders on the top and bottom show medieval fables and it is important for the images of military equipment and tactics during the era around 1100.

Nearly hidden in the Bayeux Cathedral until its rediscovery in the seventeenth century, it was moved several times to protect it from invaders: from the French revolution, to the Nazis. Several duplicates were created, one without a naked man from the Victorian era, currently a modern replica is being created in Denmark using the original tradition of embroidery. Some consider it a fine work of "propaganda."

Construction and technique

Detail showing outlines in stem or outline stitch and fillings in laid work.

In common with other embroidered hangings of the early medieval period, this piece is conventionally referred to as a "tapestry," although it is not a true tapestry in which the design is woven into the cloth; it is in fact an embroidery.

The 70 scenes of the Bayeux tapestry are embroidered in wool yarn on a tabby-woven linen ground using two methods of stitching: outline or stem stitch for lettering and the outlines of figures, and couching or laid work for filling in figures. The linen is assembled in panels and has been patched in numerous places.

A sampler by Elizabeth Laidman, 1760

The main yarn colors are terracotta or russet, blue-green, dull gold, olive green, and blue, with small amounts of dark blue or black and sage green. Later repairs are worked in light yellow, orange, and light greens. Laid yarns are couched in place with yarn of the same or contrasting color.

Contents

The story begins with Harold’s visit to Bosham on his way to Normandy (1064?) and ends with the flight of his English forces from Hastings (October 1066). Decorative borders run along the top and the bottom filled with figures of animals, scenes from Aesop's fables and Phaedrus, scenes from farming and the hunt of animals, and also some scenes relating to the main story. The restorations of certain parts have questionable authority.

Agricultural border above the messengers with Guy

The tapestry has 626 human figures, 190 horses, 35 dogs, 506 other birds and animals, 33 buildings, 37 ships and 37 trees or groups of trees, with 57 Latin inscriptions. It shows three kings: Edward the Confessor, King of England, 1042-1066; Harold, king of England Jan. - Oct. 1066; and William of Normandy, King of England, 1066-1087. Two clerics: Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury. Only three women are shown in the tapestry: Edith, wife of Edward the Confessor and sister of King Harold; a fleeing woman who was either trapped inside or fleeing from a burning building at Hastings when William's army was harrying the area and an obscure woman named Aelfgyva having her hair pulled.

The plot of the Tapestry

The tapestry tells the story of the Norman conquest of England. The two combatants are the Anglo-Saxon English, led by Harold Godwinson, recently crowned as King of England (before that a powerful earl), and the Normans, led by William the Conqueror. The two sides can be distinguished on the tapestry by the customs of the day. The Normans shaved the back of their heads, while the Anglo-Saxons had mustaches.

Bishop Odo, likely originator of the Tapestry, seen spurring his troops forward

The main character of the tapestry is William the Conqueror. William was the illegitimate son of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva (or Arlette), a tanner's daughter. She was later married off to another man and bore two sons, one of whom was Bishop Odo. When Duke Robert was returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he was killed. William gained his father's title at a very young age and was a proven warrior at 19. He prevailed in the Battle of Hastings in October 1066 and captured the crown of England at 38. William knew little peace in his life. He was always doing battle, putting down rebel vassals or going to war with France. He was married to his distant cousin Matilda of Flanders. William was 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) tall, and Matilda was 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in).

Archbishop Stigand

The tapestry begins with a panel of King Edward the Confessor, who had no son and heir. Edward appears to send Harold Godwinson, the most powerful earl in England to Normandy; the Tapestry does not specify why. When he arrives in Normandy, Harold is taken prisoner by Guy, Count of Ponthieu. William sends two messengers to demand his release, and Count Guy of Ponthieu quickly releases him to William. William, perhaps to impress Harold, invites him to come on a campaign against Conan II, Duke of Brittany. On the way, just outside the monastery of Mont St. Michel, two soldiers become mired in quicksand, and Harold saves the two Norman soldiers. William's army chases Conan from Dol de Bretagne to Rennes, and he finally surrenders at Dinan. William gives Harold arms and armor (possibly knighting him) and Harold takes an oath on saintly relics. It has been suggested, on the basis of the evidence of Norman chroniclers, is that this oath was a pledge to support William's claim to the English throne, but the Tapestry itself offers no evidence of this. Harold leaves for home and meets again with the old king Edward, who appears to be remonstrating Harold. Edward's attitude here is reprimanding towards Harold, and it has been suggested that he is admonishing Harold for making an oath to William. Edward dies, and Harold is crowned king. It is notable that in the Bayeux Tapestry, the ceremony is performed by Stigand, whose position as Archbishop of Canterbury was controversial. The Norman sources all name Stigand as the man who crowned Harold, in order to discredit Harold; the English sources suggest that he was in fact crowned by Aldred[1], making Harold's position as legitimate king far more secure.

Halley's Comet

Halley's Comet
File:Comete Tapisserie Bayeux.jpg
Detail of Halley's Comet

A star with streaming hair then appears: Halley's Comet. The first appearance of the comet would have been April 24, nearly four months after Harold's coronation. Comets, in the beliefs of the Middle Ages, warned of impending doom. The news of Harold's coronation is taken to Normandy, where William then builds a fleet of ships. The invaders reach England, and land unopposed. William orders his men to find food, and a meal is cooked. A house is burnt, which may indicate some ravaging of the local countryside on the part of the invaders. News is brought to William, possibly about Harold's victory in the Battle of Stamford Bridge, although the Tapestry does not specify this. The Normans build a mote and bailey (wall) to defend their position. Messengers are sent between the two armies, and William makes a speech to prepare his army for battle.

Unadorned shields used in battle

The Battle of Hastings was fought on October 14, 1066. The English fight on foot behind a shield wall, while the Normans are on horses. The first to fall are named Leofwine Godwinson and Gyrth Godwinson, Harold's brothers. Bishop Odo also appears in battle. The section depicting the death of Harold can be interpreted in different ways, as the name "Harold" appears above a lengthy death scene, making it difficult to identify which character is Harold. It is traditionally believed that Harold is the figure with the arrow in his eye. But he could also be the figure just before with a spear through his chest, the character just after with his legs hacked off, or could indeed have suffered all three fates or none of them. The English then flee the field.

At the time of the Norman conquest of England, modern heraldry had not yet been developed. The knights in the Bayeux Tapestry carry shields, but there appears to have been no system of hereditary coats of arms. The beginnings of modern heraldic structure were in place, but would not become standard until the middle of the 12th century.

Mysteries of the tapestry

The tapestry contains several mysteries:

  • There is a panel with what appears to be a clergyman touching or possibly striking a woman's face. No one knows the meaning of the inscription above this scene (ubi unus clericus et Ælfgyva, "where [we see] a certain cleric and Ælfgifu," a woman's name, although some authorities have claimed otherwise). There are two naked male figures in the border below this figure; the one directly below the figure is squatting and displaying prominent genitalia, a scene that was frequently censored in former reproductions. Historians speculate that it may represent a well known scandal of the day that needed no explanation.
Harold's death?
  • At least two panels of the tapestry are missing, perhaps even another 6.4 m (7 yards) worth. This missing area would probably include William’s coronation.
  • The identity of Harold II of England in the vignette depicting his death is disputed. Some recent historians disagree with the traditional view that Harold II is the figure struck in the eye with an arrow even though the words Harold Rex (King Harold) appear right above the figure's head. However, the arrow may have been a later addition following a period of repair as evidence of this can be found in engravings of the tapestry in 1729 by Bernard de Montfaucon, in which the arrow is absent. A figure is slain with a sword in the subsequent plate and the phrase above the figure refers to Harold's death (Interfectus est, "he is slain"). This would appear to be more consistent with the labeling used elsewhere in the work. However, needle holes in the linen suggest that, at one time, this second figure was also shown to have had an arrow in his eye. It was common medieval iconography that a perjurer was to die with a weapon through the eye. So, the tapestry might be said to emphasize William's rightful claim to the throne by depicting Harold as an oath breaker. Whether he actually died in this way remains a mystery.
  • Above and below the illustrated story are to be found "the marginalia" i.e. background information, for example showing the season of the year, the plundering of war booty and many symbols and pictures of uncertain significance.

Origins

Harold comes to Normandy

The earliest known written reference to the tapestry is a 1476 inventory of Bayeux Cathedral, which refers to "a very long and narrow hanging on which are embroidered figures and inscriptions comprising a representation of the conquest of England".[2]

French legend maintained the tapestry was commissioned and created by Queen Matilda, William the Conqueror's wife. Indeed, in France it is occasionally known as "La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde" (Tapestry of Queen Matilda). However, scholarly analysis in the twentieth century has concluded that it probably was commissioned by William's half brother, Bishop Odo.[3] This conclusion is based on three facts: 1) three of the bishop's followers mentioned in the Domesday Book appear on the tapestry; 2) the Bayeux Cathedral, in which the tapestry was discovered, was built by Odo; and 3) it seems to have been commissioned at the same time as the cathedral's construction in the 1070s, possibly completed by 1077 in time for display at the cathedral's dedication.

Assuming Odo commissioned the tapestry, it was probably designed and constructed in England by Anglo-Saxon artists given that Odo's main power base was in Kent, the Latin text contains hints of Anglo Saxon. Other embroideries originate from England at this time and the vegetable dyes can be found in cloth traditionally woven there.[4] Assuming this was the case, the actual physical work of stitching was most likely undertaken by skilled seamstresses. Anglo-Saxon needlework, or Opus Anglicanum was famous across Europe.

Reliability

While political propaganda or personal emphasis may have somewhat distorted the historical accuracy of the story, the Bayeux tapestry presents a unique visual document of medieval arms, apparel, and other objects unlike any other artifact surviving from this period. Nevertheless, it has been noted that the warriors are depicted fighting with bare hands, while other sources indicate the general use of gloves in battle and hunt.

Sailing to Hastings

Also, the tapestry shows Harold enthroned with Stigand, the Archbishop of Canterbury, beside him, as though he has been crowned by him. Harold was actually crowned by Aldred of York, more than likely because Stigand, who received his place by self-promotion, was considered corrupt. The tapestry tries to show a connection between Harold and the bishop, making his claim to the throne even weaker.

And, as the tapestry was made under Odo's command, he would have changed the story to his benefit, although he was present at the battle of Hastings, he was William's loyal half brother. This means he would try to make William look good, and Harold look bad, so when Harold swore to help William, did he really swear?

Modern history of the Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry was rediscovered in the late seventeenth century in Bayeux (where it had been traditionally displayed once a year at the Feast of the Relics), and engravings of it were published in the 1730s by Bernard de Montfaucon. Later, some people from Bayeux who were fighting for the Republic wanted to use it as a cloth to cover an ammunition wagon, but luckily a lawyer who understood its importance saved it and replaced it with another cloth. In 1803, Napoleon seized it and transported it to Paris. Napoleon wanted to use the tapestry as inspiration for his planned attack on England. When this plan was canceled, the tapestry was returned to Bayeux. The townspeople wound the tapestry up and stored it like a scroll. After being seized by the Ahnenerbe, the tapestry spent much of World War II in the basement of the Louvre. It is now protected on display in a museum in a dark room with special lighting behind sealed glass in order to minimize damage from light and air. In June 2007, the tapestry was listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

Replicas

Ælfgyva

There are a number of replicas of the Bayeaux Tapestry in existence. A full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry was finished in 1886 and is exhibited in the Museum of Reading in Reading, Berkshire, England. [5] Victorian morality required that a naked figure in the original tapestry (in the border below the Ælfgyva figure) be depicted wearing a brief garment covering his genitals. Starting in 2000, the Bayeux Group, part of the Viking Group Lindholm Høje, has been making an accurate replica of the Bayeux Tapestry in Denmark, using the original sewing technique, and natural plant-dyed yarn.

See also

Notes

  1. Died September 11, 1069, an English ecclesiastic, who was Archbishop of York and served Edward the Confessor, the king of England, as a diplomat and as a military leader.
  2. Britain's Bayeux Tapestry Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  3. Beech, George, 1995.
  4. Wilson, David M., 1985, p. 201-227; and Elizabeth Coatsworth, "Stitches in Time: Establishing a History of Anglo-Saxon Embroidery," in Netherton Owen-Crocker, ed., Medieval Clothing and Textiles, Volume 1, 2005, p. 1-27.
  5. It was the idea of Elizabeth Wardle to make the replica Bayeux Tapestry, now on display in the Museum of Reading. She was a skilled embroiderer and a member of the Leek Embroidery Society in Staffordshire. She researched the Bayeux Tapestry by visiting Bayeux in 1885. The aim of the project was to make a full-sized and accurate replica of the Bayeux Tapestry "so that England should have a copy of its own." Thirty five women worked for just over a year to create the replica. Britain's Bayeux Tapestry

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Beech, George. Was the Bayeux Tapestry Made in France?: The Case for St. Florent of Saumur (The New Middle Ages), New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 1995. ISBN 9781403966704
  • Bridgeford, Andrew, 1066: The Hidden History in the Bayeux Tapestry, Walker & Company, 2005. ISBN 1841150401
  • Grape, Wolfgang. The Bayeux Tapestry: Monument to a Norman Triumph, Thames & Hudson, 2004. ISBN 9783791313658
  • Hicks, Carola. The Bayeux tapestry: the life story of a masterpiece, London: Chatto & Windus, 2006. ISBN 9780701174637
  • Netherton, Robin, and Gale R. Owen-Crocker, editors, Medieval Clothing and Textiles, Boydell Press. Volume 1, 2005: ISBN 1843831236; Volume 2, 2006: ISBN 1843832038
  • Rud, Mogens. The Bayeux Tapestry and the Battle of Hastings 1066, Christian Eilers Publishers, Copenhagen, 2004. ISBN 9788772410203
  • Wilson, David M.: The Bayeux Tapestry, Thames and Hudson, 1985, ISBN 0500251223
  • Wilson, David McKenzie, ed. The Bayeux Tapestry: the Complete Tapestry in Color, Rev. ed. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2004. ISBN 0394547934

External links

All links retrieved December 26, 2008.

Credits

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