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The Bayeux Tapestry - all of it, from start to finish
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The Bayeux Tapestry - all of it, from start to finish

The Bayeux Tapestry: An Overview of Key Events

Introduction to Edward the Confessor

  • The tapestry begins in 1064, featuring Edward the Confessor, depicted as a significant figure with a crown and scepter, symbolizing his status as King of England.
  • Edward has no heirs and is seen conversing with Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, who is also his brother-in-law.

Harold's Mission to Normandy

  • Harold is sent on an unspecified mission to Normandy; he is characterized by distinct features such as different colored hands and legs.
  • The narrative includes a scene where Harold prays in a church before embarking on his journey.

Arrival in Normandy

  • Harold arrives at the land of William (Duke of Normandy), depicted wading through water with military imagery surrounding him.
  • A conversation occurs between Harold and William’s men, emphasizing power dynamics through gestures like pointing.

Messengers from Duke William

  • The tapestry illustrates messengers rushing to deliver important news to Duke William, indicating urgency and significance in their mission.
  • This section highlights the importance of communication during this historical period.

Intrigues at William's Palace

Conversations and Allegations

  • At William's palace, discussions take place involving various characters including clerics and commoners; some scenes suggest scandalous undertones.
  • A naked man appears in one scene, raising questions about potential scandals or familial ties related to Harold.

Preparations for War

  • The narrative shifts focus as it depicts preparations for war against Conan at Mont Saint-Michel.
  • Artistic license is noted regarding cavalry attacks on fortifications during this time period.

Oaths and Allegiances

Symbolic Gifts from William

  • A pivotal moment occurs when William bestows weapons upon Harold, symbolizing loyalty and allegiance amidst political tensions.

Swearing Loyalty

  • Harold swears an oath to William while placing his hands on sacred items; this act raises questions about his loyalty towards the English throne versus Norman claims.

Death of Edward the Confessor

Funeral Procession

  • Following Edward’s death on January 5th, 1066, his body is carried for burial at Westminster Abbey amid religious ceremonies.

Succession Issues

  • After Edward’s death, there are implications that Harold may have been crowned king under controversial circumstances due to conflicting accounts regarding Archbishop Stigand's role.

Halley's Comet: An Omen?

Significance of Halley's Comet

  • Halley’s Comet appears overhead during this period; its depiction suggests it was viewed as an ill omen for those involved in upcoming conflicts.

Preparation for Invasion

News Reaches Duke William

  • News about Harold's coronation reaches Duke William leading him to order shipbuilding efforts for invasion plans against England.

Crossing the Sea

Armament Transport

  • Ships are loaded with arms and armor as they prepare for crossing into England; details highlight logistical challenges faced by armies during this era.

Unopposed Landings

Contextual Background

  • It’s revealed that while landing unopposed seems advantageous for William’s forces, there were significant military maneuvers happening elsewhere that left England vulnerable.

Feast Before Battle

Pre-Battle Gatherings

  • Scenes depict feasting among soldiers before battle; camaraderie among troops is emphasized alongside preparations for conflict ahead.

Prelude to Battle: Tensions Rise

Troop Mobilization

  • As tension builds towards battle at Hastings, both sides prepare strategically while showcasing their respective strengths through visual storytelling within the tapestry.

Clash of Forces: The Battle Begins

Initial Engagement

  • The clash between Norman cavalry and English foot soldiers marks a critical turning point; casualties begin accumulating rapidly amidst chaotic combat scenes depicted artistically.

Fate of King Harold

Final Moments

  • Depictions culminate with King Harold being struck down—his death symbolizes not just personal loss but also shifts power dynamics significantly within England post-battle.
Video description

A complete guide to the story as depicted on the famous Bayeux Tapestry. There is a lot more to it than just the Battle of Hastings. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Lindybeige Other than The Adventures of Stoke Mandeville, this is the longest editing job I have ever done. It took eleven very long days of work to put this together from the opportunist footage I snatched when changing trains near the museum where it is on display. The shoot was not without its problems, one of which was the fact that because the tapestry is behind glass, and the museum has many illuminated displays, the reflections in the glass were a bane, and I didn't manage to get rid of them all. Another was that my stills camera refused to work after taking a small number of pictures. It had always worked fine before, and has always worked fine since. It wasn't the battery and it wasn't the SD card. It was a mystery. For the curious, the edit involved seventeen tracks on the timeline, and has twenty-two animated scenes. Unfortunately, the main animation software I was using could not handle full HD images, and so there is a slight loss of picture quality during most of the animated scenes. You will notice that the close-ups have a better picture quality than the wide shots. This is because they were taken with the camera pushed up against the glass, which improved focussing, and got rid of almost all of the haze and reflections caused by the glass. It is important to understand that this 'tapestry' is a piece of propaganda, and does not tell an accurate version of events. The story I tell here is the one depicted, not what actually happened. I have enough material for more videos on the tapestry, but am in no great hurry to spend many more days editing this difficult footage. Trying to match the writing and speaking of narration to panning camerawork that had no notion when shot of what might need to be said about some passing scene, was a nightmare, and many editing compromises had to be made, with some scenes skipped past quickly, and others drawn out. Clarification on the nudity: I said that the figure under the mysterious Cleric and woman was the the only figure displaying genitals on the tapestry. This was misleading. Several animals clearly are pictured with genitals, and on the tapestry in Bayeux today it looks as though a couple of other human figures have genitals. Some of these may have been added later, and these are not being 'displayed' as the displaying figure is clearly doing, but look more incidental. I describe the tall figure emerging from the building with a lance and pennant, being brought his horse, as 'William'. It occurred to me after making the video that all the sources I consulted describe this figure as William, but the text does not name him as William, so possibly he is just a Norman knight, representing any and all of the knights setting out for the battle, and that this figure is meant to be 'William' could be a modern tradition that has become accepted fact just by repetition. Buy the music - the music played at the end of my videos is now available here: https://lindybeige.bandcamp.com/track/the-mandeville-march More weapons and armour videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCA860ECD7F894424 Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make. ▼ Follow me... Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lindybeige I may have some drivel to contribute to the Twittersphere, plus you get notice of uploads. Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Lindybeige (it's a 'page' and now seems to be working). Google+: "google.com/+lindybeige" website: www.LloydianAspects.co.uk http://www.youtube.com/user/"Lindybeige"