Stephen Dillane in Bayeux Tapestry

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Stephen Dillane

A combination of verse from Simon Armitage and prose from Jeff Young lends a voice to the chain of events depicted on the famous Bayeux Tapestry. This BBC Radio 4 production chronicles the history surrounding the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the ascension of Duke William of Normandy to the English throne.

1:28 minutes

Stephen Dillane at Tony luncheon at Sardi's, May 2000.

Invasion of England, 1066

King Edward of England (called "The Confessor" because of his construction of Westminster Abbey) died on January 5, 1066, after a reign of 23 years. Leaving no heirs, Edward's passing ignited a three-way rivalry for the crown that culminated in the Battle of Hastings and the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon rule of England.

English Heritage recreate a battle scene for the BBC Radio Drama recording

The leading pretender was Harold Godwinson, the second most powerful man in England and an advisor to Edward. Harold and Edward became brothers-in-law when the king married Harold's sister. Harold's powerful position, his relationship to Edward and his esteem among his peers made him a logical successor to the throne. His claim was strengthened when the dying Edward supposedly uttered "Into Harold's hands I commit my Kingdom." With this kingly endorsement, the Witan (the council of royal advisors) unanimously selected Harold as King. His coronation took place the same day as Edward's burial. With the placing of the crown on his head, Harold's troubles began.

Across the English Channel, William, Duke of Normandy, also laid claim to the English throne. William justified his claim through his blood relationship with Edward (they were distant cousins) and by stating that some years earlier, Edward had designated him as his successor. To compound the issue, William asserted that the message in which Edward anointed him as the next King of England had been carried to him in 1064 by none other than Harold himself. In addition, (according to William) Harold had sworn on the relics of a martyred saint that he would support William's right to the throne. From William's perspective, when Harold donned the Crown he not only defied the wishes of Edward but had violated a sacred oath. He immediately prepared to invade England and destroy the upstart Harold. Harold's violation of his sacred oath enabled William to secure the support of the Pope who promptly excommunicated Harold, consigning him and his supporters to an eternity in Hell.

The third rival for the throne was Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. His justification was even more tenuous than William's. Hardrada ruled Norway jointly with his nephew Mangus until 1047 when Mangus conveniently died. Earlier (1042), Mangus had cut a deal with Harthacut the Danish ruler of England. Since neither ruler had a male heir, both promised their kingdom to the other in the event of his death. Harthacut died but Mangus was unable to follow up on his claim to the English throne because he was too busy battling for the rule of Denmark. Edward became the Anglo-Saxon ruler of England. Now with Mangus and Edward dead, Hardrada asserted that he, as Mangus's heir, was the rightful ruler of England. When he heard of Harold's coronation, Hardrada immediately prepared to invade England and crush the upstart.

The Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidery that is roughly 20 inches tall and 230 feet long. It describes the Norman invasion of England and the events that led up to it, including the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. It is believed that the Tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo, bishop of Bayeux and the half-brother of William the Conqueror. The Tapestry contains hundreds of images divided into scenes each describing a particular event.

History is written by the victors and the Tapestry is above all a Norman document. In a time when the vast majority of the population was illiterate, the Tapestry's images were designed to tell the story of the conquest of England from the Norman perspective. It focuses on the story of William, making no mention of Hardrada of Norway nor of Harold's victory at Stamford Bridge.

The Tapestry now hangs in the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, France.

Excerpts from "Invasion of England, 1066," EyeWitness - history through the eyes of those who lived it, www.ibiscom.com (1997).

Part 1: Bosham

Harold, Earl of Wessex is on a mission to Normandy to tell Duke William that Harold is heir to the English throne. At Bosham they indulge in a great feast, until the wind and tide are right. A wild storm forces them aground and they are met by the infamous Count Guy de Ponthieu.

*BAYEUX TAPESTRY*
Monday, February 19, 2001
7:45-8:00pm GMT (2:45pm EST)

cast
Christopher Eccleston	Harold, Duke of Wessex
Kirsty Wark	BBC reporter
Andrew Tiernan	messenger
Sean McKenzie
Simon Armitage, Jeff Young	writer
Kate Rowland	director

The Tapestry's story begins in 1064. King Edward, who has no heirs, has decided that William of Normandy will succeed him. Having made his decision; Edward calls upon Harold to deliver the message.

This at any rate, is the Norman interpretation of events for King Edward's selection of William is critical to the legitimacy of William's later claim to the English crown. It is also important that Harold deliver the message, as the tapestry explains in later scenes.

Part 2: Normandy

Harold arrives in France and is captured by Count Guy de Ponthieu. Harold is freed from Count Guy's castle by two of William's Knights. Harold and William meet and William's daughter Aelfgyva is told that she is to be presented to Harold as a token of their bond. William invites Harold to fight with him against Conan, Duke of Brittany. Victory is theirs and William knights Harold for the gallant part he has played in the fighting.

*BAYEUX TAPESTRY*
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
7:45-8:00pm GMT (2:45pm EST)

cast
Christopher Eccleston	Harold, Duke of Wessex
Stephen Dillane	William, Duke of Normandy
Kirsty Wark	BBC reporter
Andrew Tiernan	messenger
Simon Armitage, Jeff Young	writer
Kate Rowland	director

Pursuing his mission, the Tapestry describes how Harold crosses the English Channel to Normandy, is held hostage by a Norman count and is finally rescued by William.

Harold ends up in William's castle at Bayeux on the Norman coast where he supposedly delivers the message from King Edward. At this point the Tapestry describes a critical event. Having received the message that Edward has anointed him as his successor; William calls upon Harold to swear an oath of allegiance to him and to his right to the throne. The Tapestry shows Harold, both hands placed upon religious relics enclosed in two shrines, swearing his oath as William looks on. The onlookers, including William, point to the event to add further emphasis. One observer (far right) places his hand over his heart to underscore the sacredness of Harold's action. Although William is seated, he appears larger in size than Harold. The disproportion emphasizes Harold's inferior status to William. The Latin inscription reads "Where Harold took an oath to Duke William."

Part 3: `The Oath and Edward's Death'

In Bayeux Harold swears his lifelong allegiance to William. Harold returns to England to find King Edward on his death bed being nursed by Queen Edith. As Edward passes away, he anoints Harold as his successor. Harold has to decide whether to take this momentous step and in doing so, break his solemn oath to William. He accepts.

*BAYEUX TAPESTRY*
Wednesday, February 21, 2001
7:45-8:00pm GMT (2:45pm EST)

cast
Christopher Eccleston	Harold, Duke of Wessex
Stephen Dillane	William, Duke of Normandy
Kirsty Wark	BBC reporter
Andrew Tiernan	messenger
Simon Armitage, Jeff Young	writer
Kate Rowland	director

In this scene, Edward is presented as both alive and dead. In the top portion of the panel Edward converses with those gathered at his bedside. The Latin inscription reads "Here King Edward addresses his faithful ones." At the foot of his bed sits Edward's wife who is also Harold's sister. At the side of the bed stands Stigand, the archbishop of Canterbury who performs a religious ceremony. The dying king addresses Harold who kneels in front of him. It is here that Edward supposedly anointed Harold as his successor giving legitimacy to Harold's claim to the crown.

In the lower panel Edward is prepared for burial. The bishop performs last rites while the embalmers go about their work. The Latin inscription reads "And here he died."

Part 4: `The Coronation and the Cornet'

Following Edward's death, the streets are thronged with mourners and celebrants. The funeral and coronation take place on the same day - suddenly a comet with a fiery tail appears in the sky - an omen of misfortune. William resolves to seize the English Throne by force of arms and to exact retribution for Harold's betrayal. Hardrada, King of Norway, invades the North of England and Harold's army sets off to repel the invaders.

*BAYEUX TAPESTRY*
Thursday, February 22, 2001
7:45-8:00pm GMT (2:45pm EST)

cast
Christopher Eccleston	Harold, Duke of Wessex
Stephen Dillane	William, Duke of Normandy
Kirsty Wark	BBC reporter
Andrew Tiernan	messenger
Simon Armitage, Jeff Young	writer
Kate Rowland	director

Harold is crowned king on January 6. In the spring, near Easter, a comet appears in the sky. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes the event: "Easter was then on the sixteenth day before the calends of May. Then was over all England such a token seen as no man ever saw before. Some men said that it was the comet-star, which others denominate the long-hair'd star. It appeared first on the eve called 'Litania major', that is, on the eighth before the calends of May; and so shone all the week."

We now know that the comet-star in the sky was Halley's Comet making one of its 76-year cyclical appearances. In the Tapestry, an attendant rushes to tell Harold of the celestial happening as he sits upon his throne. The comet appears at the upper left. The portrayal acquires a sense of foreboding as empty long boats appear below the scene. These no doubt presage the invasion fleet William will employ to cross the Channel. The Tapestry implies that the appearance of the comet expresses God's wrath at Harold for breaking his oath to William and assuming the throne. Retribution will be found in the invasion fleet.

Part 5: `The Building of Boats'

The Normans prepare to set sail for England, building a fleet on an unparalleled scale. Meanwhile, Harold has been fighting the King of Norway.

In France, a carpenter and his son set to work on building the Norman fleet. At sea they hit a terrible storm and the carpenter's son is blown overboard. While King Harold's forces are occupied with repelling the Norwegians in the North, the Norman fleet lands at Pevensey Bay and finds the English coast completely undefended.

*BAYEUX TAPESTRY*
Friday, February 23, 2001
7:45-8:00pm GMT (2:45pm EST)

cast
Stephen Dillane	William, Duke of Normandy
Kirsty Wark	BBC reporter
Stephen Boxer
Kevin McMonagle
Simon Armitage, Jeff Young	writer
Kate Rowland	director

Upon hearing the news of Harold's coronation, William immediately orders the building of an invasion fleet. The Tapestry describes in detail the construction of the fleet and preparations for the invasion providing insight into eleventh century building techniques. With preparations complete, William waits on the Normandy shore for a favorable wind to take him to England.

The favorable wind arrives on September 27, and the fleet sets sail, its ships loaded with knights, archers, infantry, horses and the lumber necessary to build two or three forts. This scene shows William's ship as the fleet approaches Pevensy on the English shore. A cross adorns the top of the ship's mast. Below the cross, a lantern guides the way for the rest of the fleet. Shields line the ship's gunwales, reminiscent of the practice of the Norman's Viking ancestors. A dragon's head sits on the ship's prow and a bugler blows his horn at the ship's stern. A ship laden with horses sails along side William's craft. The fleet lands on September 28 and the invasion army makes its way to Hastings.

Part 6: `The Battle of Hastings'

On the ground, there is fear and expectation as ordinary men on both sides prepare for battle. The Battle of Hastings commences. Rumour sweeps through the Norman Army that William is wounded. He raises his helmet to show he is unharmed. At the climax of the battle, Harold is felled by a rider with a sword, and as legend would have it, is killed by an arrow in his eye. The Norman invasion succeeds and Duke William becomes King of England.

*BAYEUX TAPESTRY*
Sunday, February 25, 2001
3:00-4:00pm GMT (10:00am EST)

cast
Christopher Eccleston	Harold, Duke of Wessex
Stephen Dillane	William, Duke of Normandy
Kirsty Wark	BBC reporter
Andrew Tiernan	messenger
Sean McKenzie	servant/French horseman
Stephen Boxer	cleric/father
Linda Bassett	Edith/shorewoman
Kevin McMonagle	horseman 1/French soldier
Treva Etienne	horseman 2/French soldier
Rosie Cavaliero	Aelfgyva/woman/mourner
Andy Wear	little man/cook
Thomas Arnold	dogman/slaughterman
Terence Edmond	doctor/baker
Alex Trinder	embalmer/English soldier
Simon Armitage, Jeff Young	writer
Kate Rowland	director

This is one of many scenes depicting the ferocity of the battle. Wielding his battle-axe, a Saxon deals a death-blow to the horse of a Norman. This was the first time the Normans had encountered an enemy armed with the battle-axe. For the Saxons, this was the first time they had battled an enemy mounted on horseback. This scene probably describes the later stages of the battle when the Norman knights had broken through the Saxon shield wall. At the bottom of the scene lay the dead bodies of both Normans and Saxons.

The English fought defensively while the Normans infantry and cavalry repeatedly charged their shield-wall. As the combat slogged on for the better part of the day, the battle's outcome was in question. Finally, as evening approached, the English line gave way and the Normans rushed their enemy with a vengeance. King Harold fell as did the majority of the Saxon aristocracy. William's victory was complete. On Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.

William ruled England until his death in 1087. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recalls the Norman King in its entry for that year: "But amongst other things is not to be forgotten that good peace that he made in this land; so that a man of any account might go over his kingdom unhurt with his bosom full of gold. No man durst slay another, had he never so much evil done to the other; and if any churl lay with a woman against her will, he soon lost the limb that he played with. He truly reigned over England; and by his capacity so thoroughly surveyed it, that there was not a hide of land in England that he wist not who had it, or what it was worth, and afterwards set it down in his book."

Listen to the audio book.
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*Bayeux Tapestry* 2001	This audio book may be unavailable in the US.

This page was last updated on February 24, 2001.

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