The Bayeux Tapestry

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The Bayeux Tapestry

• M T

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What it is

• The Bayeux Tapestry is a 231ft by 20in embroidery
  that depicts each event leading up to the 1066
  Norman invasion of England and also the invasion
  itself.
• It illustrates the reign of King Harold of
  England from 1064 until he was defeated at the
  Battle of Hastings in 1066.
• The tapestry has 72 scenes. It is a great work of
  art and also contributes to the knowledge of
  warfare during the period.
• It was made without any shadow of doubt to
  celebrate and record for posterity the events
  leading up to the battle and its aftermath.

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Tapestry history

• After construction, it was put on display in the
  church of Notre Dame and remained for the next
  400 years.
• During the French revolution, it was used as a
  cover for an ammunition wagon.
• In 1803, it was transported to Paris under
  protest by Napoleon.
• Eventually, it was returned back to the people of
  Bayeux.

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Tapestry History

• Frightened of losing the tapestry, the council
  kept the tapestry on a scroll.
• It spent the next 15 years being moved around
  Bayeux for its own safety.
• In 1842, it was removed from scrolls and
  displayed for everyone to see under glass.
• It remained on display until 1913.
• It was removed and stored in a safe place during
  World war 1 and World War 2.
• June 6, 1944 an invasion took place, also known
  as d-day. To avoid the tapestry being damaged, it
  was moved to Paris where it was stored in their
  vaults.
• After the surrender of Germany, it was displayed
  again in Paris.

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Plot of the tapestry

• The tapestry tells the story of the Norman
  conquest of England.
• The main character of the tapestry is William the
  Conqueror

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The Missing piece

• It is known that the tapestry is not complete
  and that at least seven or eight meters of it are
  missing.
• This missing section would have included
  Williams consolidation of England, his
  coronation on 1066, Christmas day, and him
  becoming King.

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Replicas

• There are several replicas of the tapestry.
• A full-size replica of the tapestry was finished
  in 1886 and is exhibited in the museum of reading
  in Reading, Berkshire, England.
• Starting in the year 2000, the Bayeux group has
  been working on making an accurate replica of the
  Bayeux Tapestry in Denmark.

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What it consists of

• The tapestry consists of
• 623 Humans
• 55 Canines
• 202 Horses
• 41 Ships
• 49 Trees
• Almost 2000 Latin words
• Over 500 mythical and non-mythical creatures

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People in the Tapestry

• Edward the Confessor, King of England (1042-1066)
• Harold, King of England (Jan-Oct 1066)
• William of Normandy (1066-1087)
• Bishop Odo of Bayeux
• Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury
• Edith
• Aelfgyva

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Origins of The Tapestry

• Dates to the end of the eleventh century
• One popular legend attributes it to Matilda,
  wife of William The Conqueror, but no evidence
  exists to support this.
• Others believe that the tapestry was commissioned
  by Bishop Odo of Bayeux and half-brother of
  William.

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references

• Dahmus, Joseph. Medieval Civilization. New York
  Macmillan Publishing Company, 1984. (Dahmus
  109-110)
• Cantor, Norman. The Encyclopedia Of The Middle
  Ages. New York Penguin Group, 1999. (Cantor
  68-69)
• Jordan, Williams. The Middle Ages. 1. New York
  Charles Scribner's Sons, 1996. (Jordan 77)
• "The Bayeux Tapestry." The Bayeux Tapestry. 2006.
  1 Oct 2007 tml.
• "People In The Bayeux Tapestry." Britain's Bayeux
  Tapestry at the Museum of Reading. 1 Oct 2007
  .