Interesting factoid about the Bayeux Tapestry
Just a quick entry about an interesting fact concerning the Bayeux Tapestry.
Have you ever wondered why the Bayeux Tapestry has 58 scenes and not 70 or 5?
Apparently it is all tied to the writing on the Tapestry. Back in 1804/5 just before going on display in the Paris Louvre Museum, historians wanted to be able to refer to specific parts of the Tapestry quickly and they noticed that the Latin sentences seemed to be relevant to the embroidered scene below or in close proximity to the scene. Hence the 58 scenes.
The part of the Tapestry that deals with the actual battle(s) is where the above breaks down.
If you look at scenes 51 (a and b) and 52 (a) they form a cohesive picture of the Norman knights advancing to contact with the English heavy infantry and attacking said infantry from the rear ( Eustace of Boulogne according to the Chronicle of Battle Abbey). The English are in good order i.e. within their shield wall so the stage is set for an engagement. So here we have the embroidered scene not being in sync with the writing on the Tapestry.
Now cast an eye at Scenes 52 (b) and half of Scene 53. This time, although the horses are in the same configuration as the combined scenes 51 and 52 (a), the English heavy infantry seem to have been reduced to the last survivors of the previous scenes. Again the text is not in sync with the images.
So now, half of scene 53, scene 54, scene 55 and scene 56 form yet another episode in the battle ( the start of the main battle imo). Finally, we have the death of Harold and the remaining Huscarls and routing peasantry in scenes 57 and 58.
From the above historians have a dilemma. Do they side with the French historians of the early 19th century or do they remain faithful to the peasantry, the great unwashed and unlettered so to speak, and interpret the Tapestry according to what is shown on the Tapestry. I'm going to invite a historian that I have had dealings with before for his comments. I'll add his comments below.
