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Setting the overall style

Also, as the Bayeux Tapestry and its Preface – (for more of which, see www.battleoffulford.org) was such a prominent source of reference, and inspiration, I wanted to create a style for my drawings that emulated the almost comic nature of the characters with which it’s populated.

If you look closely at some of the expressions among the foot soldiers and cavalry men, I think it’s possible to identify a definite mischievous bent to the needle workers’ designs! (A favourite book from my own childhood which has focused very closely on recreating the Bayeux style is Gillian Clements’ The Normans Are Coming!' Macmillan, 1987.)

The rather simplistic figures, though, while certainly suited to the limited manoeuvrability of an embroidery needle, weren’t quite what we were looking for in this format (i.e. paper). I hope what I achieved in these portraits is a sense of the subjects as very credible characters, experiencing recognisably human emotions and responses to the events surrounding and involving them:

The illustration depicting King Harold’s demise (page 37) shows the lesser-known (and less sensational) version of events, now more widely accepted as the actual circumstances of his death (doubtless after many arguments about the exact placing – and significance, thereof – of his name in relation to the characters of the Bayeux Tapestry), while the Norse King Harald is shown as the unlucky recipient of an arrow to the jugular (page 32).

Other details from the drawings that arose from reading around the battles (and the period within which the events of 1066 nestle), but mainly from Charles’ expert direction, were:

bulletThe battle standards carried by Harold Godwinson and Harald Hardrada (see pages 26 and 30, respectively)
bulletSeveral sources identify the dragon as the symbol of ancient Wessex and there is a tradition that it had it followed a Roman design with a metal dragons head which made a noise  as the wind blew through its mouth. Harold also had a banner embroidered by his partner, Edith 'Swan neck', which was given the name 'The Fighting Man'. 
bulletIt is possible that Hardrada's banner , known as Landwaster, still exists and became the iconic 'fairy flag' in Scotland (wikipedia)
bulletThe coronet-shaped crowns of the medieval era – none of these great, clunking concoctions, as worn by HRH Elizabeth II (see coronation picture)
bulletThe absence of horns from the Vikings’ helmets… (I’m afraid, though, many of the Norsemen are thatched with ginger hair, for which I hope serious historians will forgive me…)
bulletDesperately scrambling for a way to distinguish William’s army from the English so that they might be identified, one from the other – particularly in illustrations showing a confrontation – I was pointed in the direction of shields: it seems that general attire was very similar for both armies (i.e. there was no discernible ‘strip’, as in football, which might have proved helpful…), but the Normandy warriors also carried more oblong-shaped shields, while the English carried an assortment of round(ish), painted ones.

Ho Ho HO...

In addition, astute readers will probably also have noticed a few not-necessarily-historically-accurate characters (not to mention an undeniably anachronistic [and empty] packet of sticking plasters in the sweaty grasp of the disgraced Swein, brother of Harold Godwinson). If they’ve escaped your attention, look out for:

bulleta nonchalantly-chewing sheep,
bulleta startled mouse,
bulleta peeping-Tom (more specifically, one of his eyes),
bulleta leaping frog,
bulleta precariously placed bird,
bulleta dexterous fish,
bulletand a helpful mole…

 

Interesting links

bullet Battle of Fulford
bullet Battle of Stamford Bridge
bullet Battle of Hastings
bullet English Heritage
bullet Battlefields Trust
bullet Young Archaeologists Club (CAB)
bullet York Archaeological Trust
bullet Regia re-enactors
bullet Viking re-enactors
bulletOnline documents

Events

bullet Riccall Rampage 24 July 2010
bullet Jorvik Festival (there will be another one in 2011!)
bullet Fulford Festival 2010
bullet Festival of archaeology 2010

 

 

 

 

An Illustrated History of 1066
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last updated 20 Julyy 2010