Visual Propaganda:

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Visual Propaganda

• The Bayeux Tapestry

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The Bayeux Tapestry

• Vital Statistics

• 231 feet long, 20 inches high
• Actually an embroidery, not a tapestry
• Produced around 1080 to dedicate a cathedral

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The most important relic to survive from the
eleventh century. A stitched chronicle of the
battle. Who commissioned it? How and where was
it made and how did it manage to survive, when so
little else did from those times? What does it
tell us of the Battle of Hastings?
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Edward the Confessor in 1064, informing Earl
Harold that he must leave for Normandy to pay
homage to Duke William and to confirm the
agreement made between Edward and William in 1051
that William shall be king of England on Edward's
death.
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William and Harold discussing matters of
relevance. William would have tried to persuade
Harold of his rightful claim to the English
throne whilst Harold using all his political
astuteness and guile would attempt to avoid this
ultimate admission.
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Harold realized that he had no choice but to pay
homage to William. This plate depicts the act of
homage over holy relics.
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The death of Edward the Confessor on the 6th
January 1066.
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The body of Edward the Confessor being carried to
Westminster to be laid to rest in the abbey that
he himself had built.
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The day following the death of Edward the
Confessor, Harold's coronation took place in
Westminster Abbey. He was the first king to be
enthroned there
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The news of Harold being crowned King of England
angered and infuriated William. After persuading
his Counts and Barons to join him on this
crusade, of which he had also managed to acquire
Papal support, he sets about constructing ships
to invade England.
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Loading of the ships prior to crossing the
English Channel. Note the chain mail hauberks
carried on poles which gives some idea of how
heavy they must have been. Swords are also being
carried by the men. The wagon on the right
contains a barrel of water or even wine. Above
this are the spears and helmets.
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William joining his fleet that would probably now
be at St Valery sur Somme, awaiting ideal
conditions to sail across the English Channel and
the start of the invasion.
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Haley's Comet, first seen on the 24th April 1066
and considered by the Saxons to be a bad omen.
Omens were taken very seriously in those days.
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William's invasion force landing at Pevensey. A
landing party disembarked to survey the area
including William who fell on his face in the mud
( which was considered a bad omen, but was
quickly dismissed by him.) It was seen that
Pevensey was totally unsuitable to unload his
ships being a flood plane and very marshy. It is
now thought that only a small contingent of his
force stayed on land and headed for Hastings. The
rest stayed on their ships and sailed 20 km east
to rendezvous with them there.
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A charge by the Norman Cavalry on the Saxon
shield wall. The spears were held above the
shoulder for a more efficient throwing action.
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The Saxon shield wall that William and his men
found so hard to break down. The closely joined
shields created a barrier to arrows and spears.
William had never met this form of resistance
before and was at a loss at some stages.
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A vivid illustration of the effectiveness of the
Danish battle axe. This long handled axe had the
ability, with one swing, to kill the rider and
the horse.
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When things were not going well for William after
the collapse of his left flank. Word spread
around that he had been killed. To show his men
that he in fact was still alive, he raised his
mask and rode along his bedraggled line so that
his men could see his face. If he had not done
this, the battle would have been over.
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Following the alleged successful implementation
of the feigned retreat tactic, William decided
for an all or nothing charge on the Saxon line.
His archers had had very little to do after
shooting of their arrows because within a few
minutes they had run out. Saxons rarely used
archery in battle and so no arrows were returned.
William decided to bring them forward and use
them as a barrage weapon by firing just over the
shield wall whist his foot soldiers and cavalry
would advance head on. The depleted Saxon wall
broke down under this tactic and signaled almost
the end of the battle.
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This part of the tapestry depicts the death of
Harold's brothers, Gyrth and Leofwin.
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The death of Harold. He is pictured holding or
trying to remove an arrow from his eye. Not
content with his injury, the Normans proceeded to
hack him further until there was no question.
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This is the final part of the tapestry that
survives and shows the remains of the Saxon army
in retreat.