1066: A Turbulent Year

This blog presents two very different views of 1066. First is from the English side, using the contemporary account called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The theme here is 'calamity'.

Second is from the Norman side, using the text embroidered into the Bayeux Tapestry. The theme in this case is 'justification'. 

Both histories are steeped in the values of Christendom. They appeal to either side of the same coin. There is no sense of irony in these records of actual events. Each side is sincere in their belief in the rightness of their cause. Because the 'authors' report the same things (the Battle of Hastings etc) and see them through the same (or similar) religious lens, their conclusions are depressingly predictable ― God punishes sinners, God rewards the just.

The point of using these two original sources is that, despite the authors' best efforts, current readers are unlikely to come away with the same fatalism. The sadness of the first version and the triumphalism of the second provoke reactions.

ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE

And King Edward came to Westminster at midwinter and there caused to be consecrated the minster which he himself had built to the glory of God and of St Peter...and the church-hallowing was on Childer-mass-day. And he died on the Twelfth-day eve, and him they buried on Twelfth-day eve, in the same minster...And this year also was Harold consecrated king; and he with little quiet abode therein, the [short] while that he wielded the realm.

In this year king Harald came from York to Westminster, at that Easter which was after the mid-winter in which the king died; and Easter was then on the day 16th before the Kalends of May. Then was, over all England, such a token seen in the heavens, as no man ever before saw. Some men said that it was cometa a star, which some men called the hair star...

And king Harold...gathered so great a ship-force, and also a land-force, as no king here in the land had before done; because it was made known to him that William the bastard would come hither and win this land; all as it afterwards happened...

Then came King William earl of Normandy into Pevensey, on the eve of St Michael's-mass: and soon after they were on their way, they constructed a [wooden motte-and-bailey] castle at Hasting's port. This was then made known to King Harold, and he then gathered a great force, and came to meet him at the estuary of Appledore; and William came against him unawares, before his people were set in order. But the king nevertheless strenuously fought against him with those men who would follow him; and there was great slaughter made on either hand. There was slain king Harold, and Leofwin the earl, his brother, and Girth the earl, his brother, and many good men; and the Frenchmen had possession of the place of carnage, all as God granted them for the people's sins. This fight was done on the day of Calixtus the pope.

And William went afterwards again to Hastings, and there awaited to see whether the people would submit to him. But when he understood that they would not come to him, he went upwards with all his army which was left to him, and that which afterwards had come from oversea to him, and he plundered all that part which he over-ran, until he came to Berkhampstead. And there came to meet him archbishop Aldred [of York] , and child Edgar, and Edwin the earl, and Morcar the earl, and all the chief men of London; and they submitted, for need, when the most harm had been done: and it was very unwise that they had not done so before; since God would not better it, for our sins: and they delivered hostages, and swore oaths to him; and he vowed to them that he would be a loving lord to them: and nevertheless, during this, they plundered all that they over-ran.

Then, on mid-winter's day, archbishop Aldred consecrated him [William] king at Westminster; and he gave him a pledge upon Christ's book, and also swore, before he [Aldred] would set the crown upon his head, that he would govern as well as any king before him had at the best done, if they would be faithful to him. Nevertheless, he laid a tribute [tax] on the people, very heavy; and then went over sea to Normandy...And bishop Odo and William the earl remained here behind...and they built castles wide throughout the nation, and poor people distressed; and ever after it greatly grew in evil. May the end be good when God will!

THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY

Inscriptions related to 58 scenes, from 1065 to the end of the Battle in 1066.

ENGLAND

Scene 1:  King Edward

           2:  Where Harold, an earl of the English, and his soldiers ride to Bosham

           3.  The church

           4.  Here Harold sailed the sea

FRANCE

Scene 5:  And, the wind full in his sails, he came to the country of Count Guy

           6:  Harold

           7:  Here Guy arrests Harold

           8:  And led him to Beaurain and kept him there

           9:  Where Harold and Guy talk

          10:  Where the messengers of Duke William come to Guy Turold

          11:  The messengers of William

          12:  Here came a messenger to Duke William

          13:  Here Guy brought Harold to William Duke of Normandy

          14:  Here Duke William came with Harold to his palace

          15:  Where a certain cleric and Aelfgyva

          16:  Here Duke William and his army came to Mont St Michel

          17:  And here they crossed the River Couesnon

                 Here Duke Harold pulled them out of the sand  

          18:  And they came to Dol and Conan turned to flight Rennes

          19:  Here Duke William's soldiers fight against the men of Dinan

          20:  And Conan surrendered the keys

          21:  Here William gave arms to Harald [made him his vassal]

          22:  Here William came to Bayeux [church]

          23:  Where Harald made an oath to Duke William [touching two altars]

ENGLAND

Scene 24:  Here Duke Harald returned to the English country

           25:  And came to King Edward

           26:  Here the body of King Edward is carried to the church of St Peter the Apostle

           27:  Here King Edward in bed speaks to his faithful followers

           28:  And here he is died

           29:  Here they have given the crown of the king to Harold

           30:  Here sits throned Harold, King of the English [breaking his oath]

           31:  Stigand, archbishop [excommunicated by pope]

           32:  These men marvel at the star

          33: Harold

NORMANDY

Scene 34:  Here an English ship came to the country of Duke William

           35:  Here Duke William ordered ships to be built

           36:  Here ships are hauled to the sea

            37:  These men carry arms to the ships

                  And here they pull a wagon with wine and arms

ENGLAND           

Scene 38:  Here Duke William in a great ship crossed the sea and came to Pevensey

           39:  Here the horses leave the boats

           40:  And here soldiers have hurried to Hastings to seize food

           41:  Here is Wadard

           42:  Here the meat is cooked

                  And here it has been served

                  The servants

           43:  Here they made a meal

                  And here the bishop blesses the food and drink

           44:  Bishop Odo, William, Robert

           45:  This man has commanded that a fortification should be thrown up at Hastings

           46:  Here news is brought to William about Harold

           47:  Here a house is burned

           48:  Here the soldiers went out of Hastings and came to the battle against Harold

           49:  Here Duke William asks Vital if he has seen Harold's army

           50:  This man tells King Harold about Duke William's army

           51:  Here Duke William exhorts his soldiers that they prepare themselves 

                   manfully and wisely for the battle against the army of the English

           52:  Here were killed Leofwine and Gyrth, the brothers of Harold

           53:  Here at the same time English and French fell in battle

           54:  Here Bishop Odo holding a wand encourages the young men

           55:  Here is Duke William

           56:  Here the French fight and have killed those who were with Harold

           57:  Here King Harold has been killed

           58:  And the English have turned to flight

The moral argument that the Normans relied on is illustrated by the scenes above.

Harold promised William that he would support him in his claim for the English realm. He swore this on two holy altars in the church at Bayeux in Normandy

After King Edward's death, Harold received the English crown as the new king, forfeiting the oath he swore to the Duke of Normandy. The falseness of his coronation is emphasised by the the officiating archbishop of Canterbury, Stigand, who had been excommunicated by the pope. Another sign of heavenly displeasure is the appearance of the 'warning' comet.

At the battle, Harold's 'shield-wall' of battle-axe wielding house-carls is unable to withstand repeated attacks by William's archers and cavalry. Harold is killed by an arrow to his eye, which was considered proof of God's retribution for a perjurer.

The ultimate argument though is that the Normans won the Battle of Hastings. Trial by combat was a central principle of traditional justice and the English lost.

The Anglo-Saxon chronicler is having none of this. On Harold's death, he records, "Archbishop Aldred and the townsmen of London would then have child Edgar [Harold's son] for king, all as was his true natural right; and [surviving earls] Edwin and Morcar vowed to him that they would fight together with him."

The document is forced to admit though, that it was already too late: "But in that degree that it ought ever to have been forwarder, so was it from day to day later and worse; so that at the end all passed away."

The irreversible outcome of William's victory at the Battle of Hastings was Norman rule. It was sealed, not by 'right', but by might.

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REFERENCES:

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, composite text from manuscripts A,B,C, D,E,F,G, edited from Monumenta Historica Britannica by JA Giles (1914), pp136-140. <ia801601.us.archive.org/25/items/anglosaxonchroni00gile/...pdf>

Bayeux Tapestry. <bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-bayeux-tapestry/discover-the-bayeux-tapestry/explore-online> scenes 1-58.