A tapestry of history and drama

Just in time for the Bayeaux Tapestry (actually an embroidery) to come to the UK while its usual home in the Normandy city of Bayeaux is modernised, a new historical drama centred around the events of 1066 comes to our screens.

1066 – one of those historical dates that everyone knows, because it is a pivot point in English (and Welsh) and French history. But what do we really know about the events? How much of the historical tale is told through a piece of embroidered cloth, and how much through written sources?

What do we really know about William, Duke of Normandy (who conveniently has a 1000th birthday coming up, in 1027), and the last English Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson? Well, the truth is, quite a lot and not always as much as we would like, all at the same time – at least as far as historians are concerned. What does everyone else know? – well, mainly what we were told at school. Thankfully the BBC are going to update all our knowledge in time for the visit and the anniversary with their new Sunday night drama King and Conqueror, definitely based entirely on historical sources and not at all on a desire to tell a well-known story that is low on detail, using good-looking actors and actresses, none of whom have signs of malnutrition or childhood illness. Actually, maybe it is just a good drama for Sunday night – which would mean the history can be as loose as it needs to be to keep people watching, but familiar enough that the audience is not reaching for a search engine every time a new character is introduced.  

Whether it’s accurate or not, enjoy the start of Conqueror mania because after nearly 1000 years – it’s all coming back!