The Battle of Hastings stands as one of the most legendary and storied conflicts in English history. At its heart was King Harold Godwinson, fighting valiantly to defend his crown and his claim as the rightful heir to the English throne. Opposing him was William, Duke of Normandy, who asserted that the late King Edward the Confessor had promised him succession.
What followed was not just a battle for the throne—but a moment that would reshape the destiny of England. Among the most iconic and enduring images of the battle is that found in the Bayeux Tapestry: Harold struck down by an arrow to the eye. Yet, this dramatic scene raises a question—did it truly happen?
The accounts of the time offer differing versions of events, and the truth remains shrouded in uncertainty. What we do know is that Harold was no stranger to warfare. Just weeks before Hastings, he had crushed a Viking invasion and slain the legendary Harald Hardrada of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge—an act that marked the end of the Viking Age in England.
So, how fierce was the struggle at Hastings? And how, in truth, did the final battle unfold? The sources from the period offer conflicting tales, leaving modern historians to piece together a moment of history that remains contested.
I will present some of the sources in chronological order to see how the source material for the battle evolved and why modern history teaches us the famed death of Harold with the arrow to the eye. Norman propaganda implies that the arrow that killed Harold was an act of divine punishment. By portraying Harold's death as a consequence of God's will, the Normans aimed to legitimise William the Conqueror's invasion and claim to the English throne.
This narrative was largely driven by the Norman perception that Harold had broken an oath to William and therefore deserved divine retribution. How true, however, is this propaganda?
00:00 Introduction
02:20 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (1066)
03:10 The Song of the Battle of Hastings (1066-1067)
05:35 Bayeux Tapestry (1070s)
08:26 Gesta Willelmi ducis Normannorum et regis Anglorum (1071 - 1077)
11:01 Chronicon ex Chronicis (Early 1100s)
12:25 Gesta Regum Anglorum (1125)
14:10 Historia Anglorum (1129 - 1135)
15:00 Vie de seint Aedward le Rei (1230s-1240s)
17:06 Conclusion
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Leo XIV as the Vicar of Christ, the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.