Bayeux Tapestry detail showing Bishop Odo rallying William the Conqueror's troops at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Within a few years of the Norman Conquest of 1066, a beautiful and intricate tapestry appeared that documented in remarkable detail the events of the Battle of Hastings. This historic battle witnessed the victory of William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, over Saxon King Harold II. The battle’s outcome changed the course of European history. Playing a role in securing the Norman victory in the prevailing historical narrative was the stunning Bayeux Tapestry, today housed at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Normandy. At over 230 feet in length, it is an artistic and historical masterpiece that has endured for nearly a millennium.
Some scholars believe that the tapestry originated in England at the hands of Anglo-Saxon artisans, commissioned as a gift for William the Conqueror, but others argue for a different origin. Its certain appearance in the historical record as an object of display did not occur until the 15th century, fueling some speculation about its provenance. However, what is certain is its impact and legacy as an enduring historical commentary on one of the most transformative events of western Europe.
Depicting dozens of scenes of events leading up to the Battle of Hastings through the conflict’s aftermath, the tapestry also provides remarkable detailed insights into the personalities involved. Unique as an artwork due to its sheer size, the Bayeux Tapestry also serves as a source document that captures the historical purview. Scholars still study this tapestry for its expansive cultural value in understanding the complexity of the Norman-Saxon transition that carried within it the seeds of the Hundred Years War three centuries later.
Historian Cheryl White examines the extraordinary context, artistic value, intriguing and colorful scenes, and glimpses of individual personalities embedded in the tapestry. White explores facts and controversy about the role of the Bayeux Tapestry in history and turns a critical eye on its lasting impact as a work of art and historical documentary. The enduring legacy of the Bayeux Tapestry speaks to the identity of a people, a kingdom, and, ultimately, the role of art in reinforcing the dominant view by which scholars interpret the past.
White is a professor of history at Louisiana State University at Shreveport where she teaches medieval and early modern European history.
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