The Bayeux Tapestry, a 230 ft piece of medieval art, has arrived in London's British Museum on loan from French President Emmanuel Macron. The tapestry tells the story of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, a national disaster for the English people.
The Bayeux Tapestry, a 230 ft piece of medieval art, has arrived in London's British Museum on loan from French President Emmanuel Macron. The tapestry, which tells the story of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, is a masterpiece of art and a reflection of the complex history between England and France.
On closer inspection, however, the tapestry reveals a more sinister message - a depiction of the English getting thrashed by the French and deserving to be thrashed. The Latin captions make it clear that the French won the battle, and the English fled in disarray. This national disaster, as historian John Gillingham calls it, had far-reaching consequences for the English people. The entire Anglo-Saxon elite was murdered or dispossessed, and their culture was eradicated.
The Normans, who made up only one per cent of the population, imposed their language and laws on the English, turning them into second-class citizens. The language of the ruling elite became French, and English literature went into an eclipse for 300 years. It wasn't until the 14th century, with the works of Chaucer, that English literature began to flourish again.
Chaucer's use of Anglo-Saxon and Norman words created a unique hybrid language that is one of the reasons English is the most capacious modern language. The Bayeux Tapestry is a powerful reminder of the complex history between England and France, and the lasting impact of the Norman Conquest on the English language and culture
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