The Bayeux tapestry was a source used for storytelling. Specifically it shows the events leading up to and, the final result William duke of Normandy’s conquering of England. When looking at the scenes of the tapestry many ideas of what is being represented can be made even without prior knowledge. While a scene is easily known it is more difficult to differentiate individual characters or groups within each scene. For example, picking the scene shown on page 236 of Lucien Musset’s The Bayeux Tapestry this scene is a major part in William’s conquest of England. The scene clearly depicts the beginning of the battle of hastings fought between the Normans and the Anglo Saxons, but many viewers debate about what identifies each group. Based off …show more content…
Musset explains their appearance in the character section of his book, “ Englishman are shown with moustaches, while the Normans are clean shaven.” Of course one could argue that the soldiers have been away from home for a long time. Therefore it would be impossible for them not to grow facial hair, but do not forget to take into account that William’s army had plenty of time to replenish themselves while Harold’s army recently fought in the battle of Stamford Bridge. It is possible for one to point out that the flag held is the Weathervane from the church of Heggen in Norway, however upon close inspection of the flag within the scene it is completely different from the one stated proving that it is not a useful material to use as support. The most significant piece of evidence that determines the soldiers on foot as the Anglo Saxons is their military strategy. Originally used by the Romans, the Anglo Saxons used their shields and created a tightly dressed shield wall to protect themselves from enemy attacks. This is true because from the text Medieval Sourcebook: William of Malmesbury, d. 1143?: The Battle of Hastings, 1066 it states “The English… All on foot, armed with battle axes, and covering themselves in front by the junction of their shields, they formed an impenetrable …show more content…
It is mentioned in the text The battle of Hasting according to Orderic Vitalis that Duke William organized his troops consisting of archers and crossbows in the front, armoured infantry in the second line, and the third line is the cavalry along with the duke himself in the middle. Although that is correct, the idea that both groups are Normans is easily disproved, because first of all, why would the outer half of the army be rushing towards their own kin? This is again stated in the same text Orderic VItalis “...the English troops… Dismounting from their horses, on which it was determined not to rely, they formed a solid column of infantry, and thus stood firm...The Normans made the first attack with ardour and gallantry, their infantry rushing forward to provoke the English, and spreading the wounds and death through their ranks by showers of arrows and bolts.” Second, once one examines the lower border of the scene they would notice slain bodies all in mail which makes it completely impossible to distinguish between both sides. This shows that the embroider wants the viewer to conclude that both sides suffered a massive loss of warriors. Another reason one would believe that the warriors on horseback are Normans is because Musset states in the Bayeux Tapestry that “While the English fought on foot… The Normans… on
Three troop types would fight for the Anglo-Saxons the Housecarls, the Fyrd, and local peasantry. The Housecarls were professional soldiers under the service of the King and the Earls of the Kingdom. Harold used the Housecarls of the King and his Housecarls of his Earldom of Wessex. He also used the Housecarls of his two brothers. The Fyrd was a volunteer citizen army provided by the Thanes of the kingdom. The local peasants fought to protect their homes.
Both pieces to me seem to represent godlike features. For example, in the palette the king is shown as larger than his enemies and in the stele the king is standing over the people and is much higher than them. As rulers, they are both depicted as strong and heroic and as humans, they are depicted as
Many people may have heard of the story of Beowulf, but not know who the Anglo-Saxons were. According to an article on BBC History, the term Anglo-Saxon refers to settlers from the German regions of Angeln and Saxony. The Anglo-Saxons made their way over to Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire around AD 410 and the period lasted for 600 years. During this period there where many rises and falls of bishops and kings, as well as many important battles. The Anglo-Saxon warriors had a variety of weapons and armor to defend them. This includes spears, scramaseaxes, swords, shields, helmets, and body armor.
The two lives of Charlemagne as told by Einhard and Notker are two medieval sources about the accounts of the life Charlemagne. Modern sources by Matthew Innes and Rosamond Mckitterick discuss how history was recorded during the medieval period and how it was suppose to be viewed in the early ages. Observing each of these sources helps get an understanding of how the writing of history is important in recorded history and how it affected how the history of Charlemagne was recorded.
Richard Jones-Nerzic, (2005), “Why did the Normans Win the Battle of Hastings?”, International School History (International School of Toulouse), [Accessed on the 29th June, 2010]
From the very first battle at Harfleur Branagh's low opinion of war is shown. When we first see the fighting, it is dusk and the sky is further darkened by smoke, instantly creating a morbid feeling. Combined with the muddy and wet terrain, the cheerless soldiers and the overbearing size of the castle which they hope to achieve, it is clear not only that the English army must fight against all the odds to win, but that even the conditions are detrimental to the English cause.The scene where Bardolph, Nym and Pistol are backing away from the battle to save themselves is an important inclusion to the film. Had Branagh intended the film to be a glorification of war, this small scene could have easily been removed. However, he chose to keep it in his film because it actually assists the message which he attempts to convey. This scene, although still clearly comical, as Shakespeare intended it to be, it implies that not all soldiers are valiant and brave and that war is so terrible that soldiers are willing to desert their friends and fellow countrymen because of the hideous nature of war.After the battle of Harfluer is won by the English and they begin to make their way towards Agincourt, Branagh seizes the opportunity to show the viewer the 'victorious' army.
5. Howe, Helen, and Robert T. Howe. From the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. N.p.: Longman, 1992. Print.
A: Bayeux Tapestry is one of the famous pieces of tapestry in the medieval time period. This tapestry is now on display in Bayeux in Normandy, France. It showed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It tells the battle of Hastings, Williams reasoning on why he invaded, the set-up for the battle, and the battle itself. The Bayeux Tapestry was important because of its size (Truman). There were 72 scenes and each one told a part of the story. It took 70 years to finish this tapestry with dimensions of 20 inches high and 250 feet long (Mr. Donn).
Nelson, Lynn H.. "Lectures for Medieval Survey." The ORB: on-line Reference Book for Medieval Studies. College of State Island, CUNY, 10 November 2002. Web. 27 Feb 2012.
History plays a very important role in the development of art and architecture. Over time people, events, and religion, have contributed to the evolution of art. Christianity has become a very common and well established religion, however, in the past it was hidden and a few people would worship this religion secretly. Gradually, Christianity became a growing religion and it attracted many converts from different social statuses. Christian art was highly influenced by the Greco-Romans, but it was immensely impacted by the establishment of the Edict of Milan in the year 313 AD. The Edict of Milan was so significant that scholars divide Christian art into two time periods, time before and after the Edict of Milan of 313.
d. Medieval banners or flags were used as a visual method of deciphering friend from foe. On the battlefield, all medieval banners or flags had the arms of its owner sown on to distinguish them from each other. There were many different types of flags and banners. The Banner, the most common of all the medieval flags and banners, was a personally identifiable flag for nobles and knights, usually attached to a horizontal bar with the arms of its owner painted or sown on, with rank shown by or big or little the banner was. Generally the ranking size were as such: Emperor- six square feet, King- five square feet, Prince or Duke- four square feet, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, or Baron- three square feet, Baronet to knight bachelor- two square feet or
The poems “The Wanderer” and “The Seafarer”, found in the Exeter Book with unknown authors, represent a lot about what Anglo-Saxon life is about. The Anglo-Saxons are a group of people from the Baltic shores of Germany who drove out the Britons in order to settle the greater part of Britain. Though the Anglo-Saxons are often depicted as being barbaric, the Sutton Hoo treasure, a treasure composed of ornate weapons and jewelry, not only demonstrated that they are great craftsmen, but also historians, scholars, and poets as well. The Anglo-Saxons belong to what is known as a warrior class society, where warriors are valued and treated with the highest forms of respect. Scops, also known as bards, were also very important to society. The storytellers
The Baroque era was the age of magic. Flat surfaces became three-dimensional and paint on plaster became alive. It was the age of masterful illusion. Nothing exhibits this mastery better than Baroque ceiling paintings.
In the art world, the medieval periods were traditionally though to be the unproductive phase of Europe between the decline of Rome and the Renaissance. Our modern feelings toward medieval art are far more appreciative. The main intent of Medieval art was to express Christianity which was also a common bond between a wide spread and diverse Europe. For this reason most of the art found from medieval times originated in monasteries and churches. European art during the Middle Ages can be divided into four periods. These four periods include Celto-Germanic art which ranged from 400 to 800 A.D. and was important in metal work. Carolingian art ranged from 750 to 987 A.D. overlapping 50 years of the Celto-Germanic period. The period of Romanesque art spanned mainly the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and was an important period for medieval architecture. Gothic art, the final period of the Middle Age art began in the Romanesque period around the twelfth century and went on until the sixteenth century. Artwork form these four periods all consist of distinct styles setting them apart from one another.
This a tale of an ancient tapestry and a young boy who was a victim of its curse.