The first half of the Bayeux Tapestry
depicts the adventures of Harold Godwinson, who was wrecked in Ponthieu
in 1064 and was ransomed from the count of Ponthieu by William, duke of
Normandy. The wall hanging's portrayal of these events is entirely
from the Norman point of view and serves as a justification of William's
invasion and conquest of England. In the Bayeux Tapestry, Harold
is portrayed as a usurper who foreswore his sacred oath to support
William as the successor to Edward the Confessor, king of England.
The second half of the Bayeux Tapestry shows
William's preparations for the invasion of England, the decisive battle
of Hastings and ends with the retreat of the defeated English. The last
part of the wall hanging is incomplete, and its account may have
continued to the point at which William was crowed king at Westminster
Abbey, near London. Since this was apparently the place pictured in the
first panel of the tapestry, such a conclusion would have a significant
symmetry.
The entire
Bayeux Tapestry would then have commenced
with old King Edward seated in state at Westminister and would have
concluded with the new King William seated in state at the same place as
the first part of the wall hanging.
The speculation over the missing sections of the
Bayeux tapestry still continue today. Restoration has been
attempted on the wall hanging, but no one will ever know what the
missing sections of the Bayeux Tapestry really depicted.
Wall Tapestry
Medieval Tapestries
Unicorn Tapestries European
Tapestries
Bayeux Tapestry
City Tapestry
Tapestry Wall Hangings
