European Tapestries - Bayeux Tapestry

France's Bayeux Tapestry is part of the Memory of the World Register of UNESCO, a collective that encourages the preservation of historical archives and documents in the world. Among the four other French documents and archives that are part of the Memory of the World Register, it is perhaps the most elaborate in terms of form, content, and artistry.

The Bayeux Tapestry is unparalleled for its depiction and documentation of an important historical event. There are other tapestry pieces that depict real events. The Valois Tapestry, for one, illustrates the various festivities done during the time of Catherine de' Medici in France.

Others, like the New World Tapestry (which illustrates the English's attempt to colonize Newfoundland, America) rivals the Bayeux Tapestry in extravagance (the New World Tapestry is even bigger than the Bayeux Tapestry), but is not included in the UNESCO list (only the Bayeux Tapestry is the tapestry piece included on the Memory of the World Register list).

The Bayeux Tapestry narrates how the conflict Harold II (or Harold Godwinson) and William I (or William the Conqueror) began, which later lead to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The panels are detailed on narrating this event through the embroidered figures in the tapestry (although called a tapestry, the Bayeux Tapestry is actually embroidery).

The tapestry began when King Edward the Confessor sent Harold to Normandy. The tapestry did not specify why he sent him to Normandy. When he arrived, Harold was captured by the Count of Pontheiu, Guy, although was immediately released as per order of William, then a powerful duke.

After Harold saved two Norman soldiers from being trapped in quicksand and after William and Harold made Conan II, the Duke of Brittany, surrender, William knighted Harold. The meaning of the supposed knighting is not clear, although William could have seen this as a sign that Harold will support his campaign to get the English throne.

This, however, is not clear, as the tapestry did not have any evidence of this. When Harold returned to King Edward, the king was already sick. Edward died and Harold became his successor. After the coronation, a comet appeared (the comet is believed to be the Halley's Comet).

During the Middle Ages, comets are signs of impending doom. When the news regarding the coronation of Harold reached William, he went to Normandy, hence starting the 1066 Battle of Hastings.

Through the tapestry, the characters -- especially during the panels concerning the conflict -- can be differentiated using certain characteristic of the figures; the Normans had shaved the back part of their heads, and Harold's side had mustache. This was said to be the norm during those times.

Besides this, The Bayeux Tapestry is successful in documenting other aspects of life during the Middle Ages-the premonitions, the clothing, the appearance of the people, the society's norm. European Tapestries are incredible works-of-art.