Why is bayeux tapestry important to historians

There were ten colors used in the Bayeux Tapestry, including two shades of red, two shades of yellow, three shades of green, and three shades of blue. The use of these different tones helped to emphasize depth, shadow, and variety within all the characters that creates the feeling of animation within the piece. In addition to varying tones of color, the tapestry has a border above and below each scene that works like the frame of a painting.

Each border consists of fables, animals, people conducting various activities, and various flora. Furthermore, the embroidered fables help to display the foreshadowing of the end of the Anglo-Saxon reign. This is shown via the modifications of the shapes of the animals and their habitat within the borders.

This change in shape is allegorical, which perhaps represents the impending victory of the Normans. The tapestry has several key events that aid in the dynamism of the piece and gives the viewer a window into the events prior, during, and at the end of the Battle of Hastings.

The first event that ignited the Norman invasion of England was Duke Harold Godwinson betraying his oath to William the Conqueror and receiving the crown of England. This elaborate scene shows both the death of Edward the Confessor on January 6, and then the crowing of Duke Harold Godwinson the next day.

Since this was a piece of art that was presented from a pro-Norman perspective, the comet could have represented the foreshadowing of victory. Additionally, there are empty ominous ships in the border below that symbolize and foreshadow the eminent invasion of the Normans. Many preparations were made prior to the invasion of England.

The viewer is given a window into medieval life, which shows the various steps required for shipbuilding during the Middle Ages. It is not coincidence that the ships are reminiscent of the Viking long ship. Two different types of ships are shown in the tapestry, one for transporting men and the other for horses. Not only was shipbuilding incredibly laborious, the production of weaponry and armor was as well.

This is also shown in the following scene that demonstrates the preparation for battle, which includes the loading of weapons, horses, and a generous supply of wine. The tapestry then shows a rather congested sea of ships in a small body of water.

The ships are overcrowded with soldiers and horses, which do not appear calm. This portrayal gives the viewer a sense of discomfort and tension. Furthermore, these scenes on the sea utilize several panels that represent what would have been a long and difficult journey across the channel. Although the end of the embroidery is missing, the story ends with the Anglo-Saxons fleeing at the end of the Battle of Hastings in October ….

After many difficulties, he sends a message to William Duke of Normandy: the King of England has designated him as his heir to the throne. When the old king dies, Harold has himself crowned instead of the Duke of Normandy. Hearing this news, William decides to cross the Channel in to reclaim his throne….

On a September night in , several hundred ships set sail, with seven thousand men and about two thousand horses on board. Among the boats is the ducal ship given by the duchess Matilda: the Mora stands out with a lantern blessed by the Pope at the top of its mast. In the morning the fleet makes landfall at the little port of Pevensey in Sussex and the Normans make their way towards Hastings, where they take up their positions. On 14 October , the decisive battle between Norman and Anglo-Saxon troops begins.

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