2. The Bayeux tapestry (French: Tapisserie de Bayeux) is not actually a tapestry (that is, a weaving), but is embroidery . It was made in England , probably in Kent , after the Norman conquest of 1066 , and commemorates the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. It is currently to be found in a special museum in the town of Bayeux in Normandy .
3. The tapestry is 70 metres long and 0.5 metres wide. It has 58 scenes, which portray in detail the progress of William I of England to the throne. It is sometimes said to have been made by William's queen, Matilda of Flanders , and her ladies. Indeed, in France it is known as "La Tapisserie de la ReineMathilde" (Tapestry of Queen Mathilda). However, it was probably made in a workshop on the orders of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux , who was William's half-brother.
4. The tapestry tells the story of the Norman conquest of England. The two combatants are the Anglo-Saxon English, led by Harold Godwinson and the Normans led by William, Duke of Normandy. As the tapestry was made by the Normans it tells the story from their point of view in an attempt to legitimise William’s invasion. At least two panels of the tapestry are missing, perhaps even another 6.4 metres worth. This missing area would probably include William’s coronation.
5. EDWARD REX. UBI HAROLD DUX ANGLORUM ET SUI MILITES EQUITANT AD BOSHAM."King Edward. Where Harold, Earl of the English, and his retinue ride to Bosham."Harold Godwinson confers with King Edward the Confessor and sets out on his journey.
6. ECCLESIA. HIC HAROLD MARE NAVIGAVIT ET VELIS VENTO PLENIS VENIT IN TERRAM WIDONIS COMITIS."The church. Here Harold took to the sea and came with full sail to the territory of Count Guy."Harold and his men prepare for a sea voyage with a final prayer and meal. Then they board their ships, taking dogs and falcons with them.
7. LEFT TEXT COMPLETED IN PREVIOUS SEGMENT, RIGHT TEXT COMMENCES IN THE NEXT SEGMENT.Their landing on the coast of France is met by the hostile Guy of Ponthieu.
8. HAROLD. HIC APPREHENDIT WIDO HAROLDUM ET DUXIT EUM AD BELREM ET IBI EUM TENUIT."Harold. Here Guy seized Harold and led him to Beaurain and retained him there."Harold is taken prisoner.
9. UBI HAROLD ET WIDO PARABOLANT. UBI NUNTII WILLEMNI DUCIS AD WIDONEM. TUROLD NUNTII WILLELMI"Where Harold and Guy converse. Where Duke William's messengers came to Guy. Turold William's messengers. "While Harold talks with Guy, William of Normandy prepares a rescue mission.
10. LEFT SIDE LATIN TEXT ON PREVIOUS SEGMENT."Right hand side translation in the next segment."William's men hurry to Beaurain.
11. HIC VENIT NUNTIAS AD WILGELMUM DUCEM. HIC WIDO ADDUXIT HAROLDUM AD WILGELUM NORMANNORUM DUCUM."Here the messengers came to Duke William. Here Guy took Harold to William, Duke of Normandy."Guy surrenders his prisoner to William.
12. HIC DUX WILGELM CUM HAROLDO VENIT AD PALATIUM SUUM. UBI UNUS CLERICUS ET AELFGYVA."Here Duke William comes to his palace with Harold. Where a certain clerk and Aelfgyva."Harold and William return to Normandy, where William's daughter Aelfgifu is betrothed to Harold.
13. HIC WILLELM DUX ET EXERCITUS EJUS VENERUNT AD MONTEM MICHAELIS."Here Duke William and his army came to Mont St Michel."Harold and William celebrate their new relationship by fighting together against Conan of Brittany, but disaster nearly strikes at Mont. St. Michel.
14. ET HIC TRANSIERUNT FLUMEN COSNOSIS. HIC HAROLD DUX TRAHEBAT EOS DE ARENA. ET VENERUNT AD DOL ET CONAN FUGA VERTIT. REDNES."And here they crossed the river Cuesnon. Here Earl Harold pulled them out of the sands. And they came to Dol, and Conan fled. Rennes."The battles continue at Dol and Rennes.
15. HIC MILITES WILLEMI DUCIS PUGNANT CONTRA DINANTES ET CUNAN CLAVES PORREXIT."Here Duke William's soldiers fight against the inhabitants in Dinan, and Conan handed over the keys."At Dinan, the Duke of Brittany surrenders to William.
16. HIC WILLELM DEDIT ARMA HAROLDO. HIC WILLELM VENI BAGIAS.UBI HAROLD. SACRAMENTUM FECIT WILLELMO DUCI."Here William gave Harold weapons. Here William came to Bayeux.Where Harold gave his oath to Duke William."During the victory celebration William knights Harold, and Harold takes a solemn oath to become the man of William.
17. HIC HAROLD DUX REVERSUS EST AD ANGLICAM TERRAM. (continued on next segment)"Here Earl Harold returned home to England."Harold returns to England.
18. ET VENIT AD EDWARDUM REGUM. HIC PORTATUR CORPUS AEDWARDI REGIS AD ECCLESIAM SCI PETRI APOSTILI. HIC EADWARDUS REX IN LECTO ALLOQUITUR FIDELES. ET HIC DEFUNCTUS EST."And came to King Edward. Her King Edward's body is carried to St Peter the Apostle. Here King Edward in bed speaks to his faithful. And here he died."Edward the Confessor dies.
19. HIC DEDERUNT HAROLDO CORONAM REGIS. HIC RESIDET HOROLD REX ANGLORUM. STIGANT ARCHIEPISCOPUS. ISTI MIRANT STELLAM."Here they gave the royal crown to Harold. Here enthroned is Harold, King of England. Archbishop Stigand. These people marvel at the star."Harold is crowned King of England. Look for Haley's Comet.
20. HAROLD.HIC NAVIS VENIT IN TERRAM WILLELMI DUKIS. HIC WILLEM DUX IUSSIT NAVES EDIFICARE."Harold.Here an English ship came to Duke William's country. Here duke William ordered the buiding of ships."Word of Harold's coronation travels to William.
21. (TEXT INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS SEGMENT)"(translation on previous segment)"
22. HIC TRAHUNT NAVES AD MARE. ISTI PORTANT ARMAS AD NAVES. ET HIC TRAHUNT CARRUM CUM VINO ET ARMIS."Here they pull the ships to the sea. These men carry weapons down to the ships. And here they pull a cart loaded with weapons."The ships take on their supplies.
23. HIC WILLEM DUX IN MAGNO NAVIGIO MARE ......"Here William crosses in a large ship over the sea ......"The horses board, and the ships set sail.
24. TRANSIVIT ET VENIT AD PEVENSEAE."and came to Pevensey."The fleet sails under the protection of the pope (look for his banner) and lands at Pevensey.
25. HIC EXEUNT DE NAVIBUS . ET HICMILITES FESTINAVERUNT HESTINGHAM UTCIBUM RAPERENTUR."Here the horses go ashore. And here the soldiers hurried to Hastings to requisition food."The Normans disembark and ride to Hastings.
26. HIC EST WADARD. HIC COQUITOR CARO. ET HIC MINISTRAVERUNT MINISTRI.”Here is Wadard. Here meat is cooked. And here the servants serve the food.” The cooks prepare food.
27. HIC FECERUNT PRANDIUM. HIC EPISCOPUS CIBUM ET POTUM BENEDICIT. ODO EPISCOPUS. WILLELM. ROTBERT. ISTE IUSSIT UT FODERETUR CASTELLUM....."Here they dined. And here the Bishop blesses the food and wine. Bishop Odo. William. Robert. He ordered defences dug....."William and his lords celebrate at a banquet.
28. AT HESTENGAMCEASTRA. HIC NUNTIATUM EST WILLELMO DE HARALDO. HIC DOMUS INCEnDITUR. HIC MILITES....."at Hastings. Here William received news of Harold. Here the house is set on fire. Here the soldiers left Hastings, and went to do battle with King Harold."The Normans build their camp and prepare for battle.
29. EXIERUNT DE HESTENGA AT VENERUNT AD PRELIUM CONTRA HAROLDUM REGEM"left Hastings, and went to do battle with King Harold."The Norman army assembles.
30. HIC WILLELM DUX INTERROGAT VITAL SI VIDISSET EXERCITUM HAROLDI."Here Duke William asks Vital whether he has seen Harold's army."The Normans ride out to meet the Anglo-Saxons.
31. OSTE NUNTIAT HAROLDUM REGEM DE EXERCITU WILLELMI DUCIS. (CONTINUES NEXT SEGMENT)"This man informs King Harold about Duke William's army.Harold is warned of the advance, and William gives a pep talk to his men.
32. (CONTINUES ON NEXT SEGMENT)"(continues on the next segment)"The Normans attack on horseback.
33. HIC WILLELM DUX ALLOQUITUR SUIS MILITIBUS UT PREPARARENT SE VIRILITER ET SAPIENTER AD PRELIUM CONTRA ANGLORUM EXERCITUM"Here Duke William exhorts his soldiers to prepare themselves like men and wisely for the battle against the English army."The Anglo-Saxons meet their attack on foot.
34. HIC CECIDERUNT LWEINE ET GYRD"Here fell Leofwine and Gyrth,"Harold's brothers are killed in the battle.
35. FRATRES HAROLDI REGIS. HIC CECIDERUNT SIMUL ANGLI ET FRANCI IN PRELIO."brothers of King Harold.Here fell the English and the French simultaneously in the battle."The battle rages.
36. FRATRES HAROLDI REGIS. HIC CECIDERUNT SIMUL ANGLI ET FRANCI IN PRELIO."brothers of King Harold.Here fell the English and the French simultaneously in the battle."The battle rages.
37. EUSTASIUS. HIC FRANCI PUGNANT."Eustace. Here the French do battle."Newly encouraged, the Normans attack viciously.
38. ET CECIDERUNT QUI ERANT CUM HAROLDO. HIC HAROLD REX INTERFECTUS EST."And those who were with Harold fell. Here King Harold was killed."Harold is struck in the eye by an arrow and dies.
39. ET FUGA VERTERUNT ANGLI."And the English fled."The Normans are victorious.
