Here is my Stanford EPGY research paper on the Bayeux Tapestry. It took me four whole weeks to complete the paper. Part of my evidence is from an interview with Mogens Rud who is the top Danish researcher on the Bayeux Tapestry.

Lots of papers and books fill my desk.

The Battle of Hastings according to
the Bayeux Tapestry

A wild cry of rumour spread that the Duke William of Normandy had fallen. As the panic began to spread a knight lifted his helmet. It was the Duke. Rallying his men he shouted to them "Look at me well. I am still alive and by the grace of God I shall yet prove victor". And God led the Normans to victory.

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 led to Norman rule in England. William's half-brother Odo became Earl of Kent. Odo ordered a tapestry to be made in honour of William's victory. Around 1077 the longest tapestry in the world was finished. It is called the Bayeux Tapestry. The Bayeux Tapestry is the most important source to the Battle of Hastings, there are 11 battle scenes, however by the time it was finished the battle was almost forgotten and some battle events still remain a mystery.

Most researchers agree the Bayeux Tapestry was finished in 1077. David Wilson p.12 states the Tapestry was made in South England before 1082. It was taken granted in the past the Tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo for his new Cathedral in Bayeux which was finished 1077, Charles Gibbs-Smith p. 4. Mogens Rud (20 march 2000) agrees with Gibbs-Smith that the Tapestry was ready for the dedication of Odo's new Cathedral in 1077. However David Bernstein p.38 points out that the Tapestry could only have been finished after 1077. One of the men playing an important role in the Tapestry is the knight Eustance. He was unpopular with the Royals for a decade since his rebellion in 1067. Therefore Eustance could not have been placed as the man pointing at William when William shouts to his men that he is alive, before 1077. We are not sure when the Tapestry got it's first stitch and when it was finished, but Eustance could have been so important for the battle that Odo wanted him placed where he is, so I believe the Tapestry was finished 1077.

The Bayeux Tapestry is the most important source on the Battle of Hastings although it was finished several years after the battle. There is also a song called "Carmen de Hastingae Proelio" from 1072 that refers to the Battle, Rud (20 March 2000). The Tapestry tells us what weapons and armour were used at that time. It also tells us a lot about what happened at the battle. We can trust the first half of the Tapestry more than the second half because they probably began sowing the Tapestry shortly after the battle, while the second half was almost certainly made several years after the battle. Gibbs-Smith does not trust the Tapestry that much as a historical source for the Battle of Hastings. He believes more in the song than in the Tapestry. He thinks the Tapestry is more stylised than factual. It was more important to show exactly what William looked like than what really happened, Gibbs-Smith pl. 36 / 37. I trust the Tapestry just as much as the song. The song only has one paragraph on the battle while the Tapestry tells a story which is worth five hundred Carmens.

The Tapestry was made as propaganda to prove William was Edward's rightful successor to the English throne. During the scenes 13-15 Harold tells William he has been promised the English throne when Edward dies says Rud p. 47. Edward sent Harold to Normandy to tell William he would succeed the English throne when Edward died. The English Earls would rather have Harold as King than William, so the Earls and Harold said Edward told them that Harold should rule over England when Edward died. Odo wanted every one to agree that William was Edwards's rightful successor by having the Tapestry made.

Many researches believe that the Tapestry was made in England. The style and inscriptions give clues to its origin. The inscription tells us it is English, Wilson p.203. Only the Anglo-Saxons wrote the U's as our days V's. Bernstein p. 38 says it was made in England because only Anglo-Saxon women made Embroideries at that time. It was most likely made in the City of Canterbury the biggest town in Kent where Odo was Earl, Rud p.10. The style and inscriptions show that the Tapestry is from England.

An example of the Latin "U" the Anglo-Saxons used at that time

Bishop Odo probably paid for the Tapestry because it was hung up in his Cathedral and he is shown many times on the Tapestry. The Tapestry was made for Bishop Odo therefore he must have paid for it declares Bernstein p.8. Odo is the man shown mostly in the Tapestry suggesting he must have paid for it Rud p 10. Bishop Odo almost certainly paid for the Tapestry because he is the character shown most often.

The Bayeux Tapestry was made as a picture book so both those who could read and those who couldn't would understand why the battle had taken place. Only the rich and monks could read and write at that time. Those who couldn't read could look at the pictures and understand what happened.

The eleven battle scenes show what weapons the soldiers fought with and what clothes they had on. We can see on the Tapestry that the Normans Knights had horses unlike the English who were on foot. Only the rich Normans had horses Wilson p.220. Both sides armour were mail shirts and a long or round shield. The Normans had more bow men than the English. It is quite strange that only one English bow man is recorded, Rud (20 March 2000). The English made shield walls to protect themselves from the Norman cavalry. Spears and javelins are the most common weapons used by the Norman knights on the Tapestry. The main weapons for both sides are clubs, mazes, swords and spears. The Normans had an advantage by using horses in the battle. The English were lucky to have Danish battle axes that could kill a knight or his horse in one blow. All helmets on the Tapestry are pointed and have nose protection. The soldiers without mail shirts are peasants helping defend England. The Bayeux Tapestry is an excellent source on the battle because it shows us what the soldiers used during the battle and what they had on for protection.

A Norman knight on horseback attacks an English foot soldier.

The writing is in Latin because that was the main written language during the Middle Ages. The Latin text is about battle events, and the main character's actions. Were Harold is killed the text says "Here King Harold has been killed". The Latin text at the hill in pl. 54 says "Here Bishop Odo holding a wand encourages the young men", Wilson p. 173. The text makes the Tapestry easier to understand.

The Latin text says "This man tells King Harold about Duke Williams army", Wilson p. 173.

William became King of England because he showed himself as a better war leader than Harold. William personally commanded the joint forces during the entire battle. The opening attack could have decided the battle right away but the Norman archers shot their arrows straight into the shields of the English. When the opening attack failed William sent his infantry forth, Rud p. 83. Battling fearlessly William was everywhere saving the lives of many, Rud p. 83. The English resistance was so violent that some of Williams men fled in panic, Rud p. 84. In the middle of the battle Williams horse was shoot down under him. Quickly he jumped on a fresh horse and showed his men he was alive by taking off his helmet. As the Duke William said proving himself alive "Look at me well. I am still alive and by the grace of god I shall yet prove victor", Rud p. 84. Harold could have won the battle when William's horse was shoot down, Harold's hesitation and Williams resolute behaviour stopped the English from winning the battle.

Here the Knight Eustance is pointing to William while he lifts his helmet to prove he lives.

There is uncertainty if Harold is shown twice in the death scene. Many researches believe he is indeed shown twice. "Carmen de Hastigae Proelio"  tells us about the final phase of the battle. It says William spotted the King far away on the steep hill. William called three of his knights to him. One of them was Eustance. They rode up to the King and cut him down. Rud thinks Harold is shown twice as the man with his right hand grasping an arrow in the eye (Harold A) and the man cut in the leg (Harold B), Rud (20 March 2000). Wilson agrees with Rud that Harold is killed within the shield wall shot in the eye with an arrow and hewn in his legs as he falls, Wilson p. 194. Bernstein argues that Harold is shown twice because amongst others the creator could have moved the text (HAROLD REX INTERFECTUS EST -Here King Harold is killed) so it was shown only above Harold B. Gibbs-Smith disagrees with most others thinking Harold is only shown once in the death scene. He thinks Harold is the man being hacked in the leg under the word INTERFECTUS meaning "dying". Gibbs-Smith does not believe any character is shown twice in the same scene, Gibbs-Smith p. 15 and pl. 42-43. Gibbs-Smith is definitely wrong says Rud, the brothers of Harold; Leofwine and Gyrth are shown alive and dead in one scene (20 March 2000). Rud believes that there is a Harold A and B because stitch marks go out from Harold B's eye in the form of an arrow. Only the arrow on the figure standing has been restored because those who restored it only believed that there was one Harold in the death scene. Both arrows were once gone and only one has been restored, Rud (20 March 2000). Harold is the figure who has his hand gripping an arrow that has pierced his eye and the figure with a sword cutting him down. You can not see that there is an arrow on the second figure, but once there was. We know that because there are about twelve stitch marks going out from the figure's eye.

"Here King Harold is killed". Harold A is the figure gripping an arrow that has hit him in the eye, Harold B is the figure hewn in the leg.

The Bayeux Tapestry does not reveal all it's secrets. Researches have tried to solve the mysteries behind the Tapestry. Only few of them have been solved. We are uncertain when the Tapestry got its first stitch, but we are almost certain the Tapestry was finished in 1077. Even though the Bayeux Tapestry was finished long after the battle it is still the best source to the Battle of Hastings. The Tapestry was made in honour of Williams victory, that led to Norman rule in England. The battle marks the end of the Viking age and the start of the Middle Ages

 Marcus Fischer Mellbin, March 2000

Bibliography   Bernstein, David J., The Mystery of the Bayeux Tapestry,    George Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd., 1986   Gibbs-Smith, Charles H., The Bayeux Tapestry,      New York, Phaidon Inc., 1973   Rud, Mogens, The Bayeux Tapestry and the Battle of     Hastings 1066, Tønder, Christian Eilers Publishers Ltd.,    1988   Wilson, David N., The Bayeux Tapestry, London,      Thames & Hudson Ltd., 1985   La Tapisserie de Bayeux, Edition Ville de Bayeux, undated   Interview with Mogens Rud, 20 March 2000