A section of the Bayeux Tapestry where horses are being shipped to England by Normans, prior to their invasion
Nine hundred and fifty years ago, on Oct. 14, 1066, Duke William of Normandy conquered England in what is known as the Battle of Hastings. Much has been written about the Norman Conquest in the centuries since, but nothing begins to compare with the telling of the story on a piece of linen about 230 feet long, known as the Bayeux Tapestry. In 50 scenes embroidered on cloth with colored yarn, the tapestry brings alive the year 1066 as it illustrates England’s last outside invasion.
Filled with armored knights, soldiers astride their war horses, heraldic symbolism, even Haley’s Comet, the mystery-laden artifact commands attention as a pivotal piece of historical evidence.
In this illustrated lecture, Richard Abels, professor of history at the United States Naval Academy, discusses the fascinating history of the year 1066 and addresses the unique political agendas embroidered in this timeless fabric.
