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/world-castle-vacations/Jan-Elizabeth-Landwehr.jpg "Jan Landwehr")
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Explore the fortified symbols of power and medieval splendor that grace the Bayeux Tapestry. These castles, woven into history's fabric, stand as enduring witnesses to a bygone era.
The Bayeux Tapestry is an 11th century pictorial piece of embroidered wool-on-linen cloth 231 feet long and 19.5 inches inches tall depicting the events leading up to the Norman Conquest when William, the Duke of Normandy and his Norman-French forces defeated the English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
It is a masterpiece of medieval textile art vertically divided into three sections. The upper and lower borders contain dragons, griffins, lions, and other animals from Aesop’s Fables whilst the central panel contains 75 scenes with Latin inscriptions.
/world-castle-vacations/images/Bayeux-Tapestry.jpg "The Bayeux Tapestry depicting 1066 invasion")
The Bayeux Tapestry depicting 1066 invasion.
At the heart of the Bayeux Tapestry is Edward the Confessor, English king and saint, who ruled from 1042 until his death on January 5, 1066. He was a direct descendant of Alfred the Great (died 899), whose family had forged the kingdom of England in the 10th century.
Not only was Edward the Confessor the brother-in-law of King Harold Godwinson, he was my great-uncle, as I descend from his elder half-brother King Edmund Ironside and half-sister, AElfgifu, Lady of Northumbria.
Leaving no children, Edward the Confessor's death precipitated a succession crisis - a conflict amongst three claimants to the throne of England - Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Norman rivals.
/world-castle-vacations/images/Edward-the-Confessor.png "King Edward the Confessor")
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notable scenes
Meticulously woven into the fabric of the Bayeux Tapestry, these key scenes transport us back in time to a pivotal moment in history, where the fate of nations hinged on the outcomes of epic battles and the ambitions of extraordinary leaders. Each stitch tells a story, and together, they form a tapestry of history that continues to inspire and intrigue visitors from around the globe.
/world-castle-vacations/images/Bayeux-Tapestry_-_Harolds-Oath.png "Harold Godwinson Swearing An Oath")
Having been shipwrecked off the coast of Normandy in 1064, this pivotal moment captures the solemn vow made by then Harold, Earl of Wessex, to support Duke William of Normandy’s claim to the throne as Edward the Confessor’s mother, Emma, was William’s great-aunt.
Witness the intricate embroidery that depicts Harold’s oath-taking on two reliquary shrines that would ultimately lead to the fateful Battle of Hastings two years later.
The scene is a testament to the complex web of alliances, loyalties, and ambitions that shaped the course of history, as seen through the eyes of the talented artisans who crafted the Bayeux Tapestry.
This poignant scene, intricately woven into the fabric of the tapestry, depicts the four inner counsellors to Edward the Confessor including Queen Edith, Earl Harold Godwinson of Wessex, Archbishop Stigand and my ancestor, Robert FitzWimarc, who is seen supporting the pillow of Edward the Confessor on his deathbed.
Dying at the age of 62 on January 5th, 1066 after a 24-year reign, Edward the Confessor was buried the following day at Westminster Abbey, his great new church which had just been consecrated on the 28th of December 1065.
As you explore this moving tableau, you’ll gain insights into the intricate storytelling and historical significance that the Bayeux Tapestry embodies.
It’s a captivating glimpse into the most tumultuous year in English history, where the threads of destiny were woven together, setting the stage for the dramatic events that would follow.
/world-castle-vacations/images/Bayeux_Tapestry_-_Coronation_of_King_Harold.png "The Coronation Of King Harold")
On January 6, 1066, the day after Edward the Confessor’s death, Harold Godwinson was crowned King of England by the king’s Anglo-Saxon council known as the ‘witan’. The Bayeux Tapestry captures this iconic scene in vivid detail.
This grandeur-filled occasion is not just a display of royal splendor but also a symbol of the enduring influence of the English monarchy.
Explore this captivating scene, where the threads of power, tradition, and destiny converge, as we delve into the fascinating narrative of King Harold's coronation as told through the lens of the Bayeux Tapestry.
/world-castle-vacations/images/William-the-Conqueror-commands-his-armies.png "William The Conqueror And The Battle Of Hastings")
One of the key scenes on the Bayeux Tapestry is Hastings Castle - a scene in which William the Conqueror commands that a castle be constructed to create a base for William's armies where they raided the English countryside prior to the Battle of Hastings.
William, the Duke of Normandy, sought to claim the English throne, setting in motion a chain of events that culminated in the dramatic confrontation at Hastings. This pivotal battle, immortalized in the Bayeux Tapestry, witnessed the downfall of King Harold and the rise of William as the conqueror of England.
/world-castle-vacations/images/motte-and-bailey-castle-bayeux-tapestry.jpg "Motte-and-bailey Castles")
Also featured on the Bayeux Tapestry are five motte-and-bailey castles located in France – the main ones being Chateau de Dinan, Castle Dol, and Castle Rennes in Brittany – illustrating Duke William’s campaign against his rival, Conan II, Duke of Brittany during the Breton-Norman war of 1064-1066.
Poignantly pictured is the surrender of Duke Conan II at the Battle of Dinan in 1065 showing him relinquishing the keys to the castle on a lance to Duke William of Normandy.
Duke Conan II died childless and was subsequently succeeded by his sister, Hawise of Rennes, Duchess of Brittany, who is my 30th great-grandmother via her 6th great-grandson, John II, Duke of Brittany, who married Princess Beatrice of England, the daughter of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.
/world-castle-vacations/images/Bayeux_Tapestry_-_Battle_of_Hastings.png "The Death Of King Harold")
In the annals of history, few moments are as dramatic and consequential as The Death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, a pivotal scene depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
Here, in bold and painstaking detail, the Tapestry captures the heart-stopping climax of the Norman Conquest of England on the 14th of October of 1066.
In this scene, tragedy unfolds as an arrow pierces King Harold’s eye, sealing his fate as sovereign for only nine months and eight days as well as marking a turning point in English history.
Historic tapestries were regularly used in castles and churches in the medieval era for both decoration and insulation. Often they were produced for nobility to commemorate an event or a particular myth or a legendary story.
The 'Granddaddy' of all tapestries is the Bayeux Tapestry which interestingly enough features seven of my ancestors listed here.
Immerse yourself in tales of conquest, siege, and regal intrigue and discover some of the majestic fortresses, intricately embroidered in one of the world's greatest historical treasures.
Below you'll find a list of 6 castles that appear on the Bayeux Tapestry - a few of which were built by several of my ancestors.