Script resources physical-description**Background
Title: Bayeux Tapestry(1066)
Context
The Bayeux Tapestry is "an embrodiery that chronicles the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. It is a long, narrow strip
of coarse linen that is embroidered with eight colors in couching and stem stitch. The embrodiery is very valuable on the history and costumes of the
time. It is thougt that Bishopy Odo was the architect who commissioned the tapestry. It was made shortly after the battle in 1066 "to celebrate and
record for posterity the events leading up to the battle and its aftermath"(http://www.aemma.org/onlineResources/bayeux/bayeuxIntro.html).
Author: Unknown
There is much debate on where and by whom the tapestry was constructed.
Provenance
The French believe it was made in France, but other clues indicate otherwise. In France it is known as the Tapisserie de la reine Mathilde or Queen
Matilda's Tapestry. Matilda was William's wife and as Queen of England and Duchess of Normandy, she would have had very little time to construct the
tapestry and she does not appear anywhere in the tapestry. Many experts have studied the tapestry over the years and most have agreed that it was
constructed in England. There are certain historical facts that indicate where it was made. After the battle in 1066, Bishop Odo was made Earl of Kent
because he was William's half brother and he was also duty bound to repay the loyalty of his nobles.
Like many other artifacts, the tapestry has survived "through luck and endeavours of certain individuals and
groups"(http://www.aemma.org/onlineResources/bayeux/bayeuxIntro.html). The exact date or time to construct the tapestry is still unknown. After it
was constructed it was transported to Bayeux. When it arrived, it was assumed to put on display in the Church of Notre Dame, which was consecrated
by Bishop Odo in 1077. It is known that the tapestry remained within the Cathedral for the next 400 years because of an inventory treasures catalogued.
Little is known or interest shown for another 300 years. Around 1750 in England, it was referred to in a work entitled the Palaeograhia Britannicus.
The English made no attempt to investigate it further. In 1792 there was signs of civil war and the tapestry was in danger. The French Revolution had
just begun, but if it wasn't for the actions of Lambert Leonard Leforestier it would have been lost. The people in Bayeux were using cloth to cover their
wagons and there was a shortage of cloth until somebody remembered that there was more supply in the cathedral. When Lambert saw that the tapestry
was removed, he replaced the Tapestry with other cloth and the people of Bayeux were determined to never allow this to happen again and the city
council set up a fine arts council to protect its treasuers.
Two years later in 1794 the tapestry was to be cut up and used as decoration for a public holiday, but in 1830 it was removed in protest by Napoleon
and transported to Paris. Napoleon used the tapestry for an inspiration to plan his attack on is enemy England. When the attack was aborted, it was
returned to Bayeux.
Because the people of Bayeux, were frightened of losing the tapestry it was kept on a scroll and shown only to guests and dignitaries. Showing the
tapestry stretched the embrodiery but at least it was safe. For the next 15 years it was moved around Bayeux for its own safety, but in 1818, the
existence of the Tapestry was causing great interest in England. Because of the great interest, an English draughtsman was sent to Bayeux to inspect
and catalogue it. For 2 years he deeply studied it and he devised a programme to restore it. In 1842, repairs were done that affected Bayeux.
It was removed from the scrolls and displayed for all to see under glass, but in 1870 it was removed again during the Franco Prussian war, but two years
later it was returned to glory. It remained on display until 1913 before the outbreak of WWI, where it was again removed and stored in a safe place. The
same action occured again during WWII so the Nazi Germany could not get a hold of it. On June 5th, 1944, a reverse invasion took place known as D-
Day. To prevent the tapestry from being damaged, it was secretly moved to the Louvre in Paris, where it was stored in their vaults. After Germany
surrendered, the tapestry was displayed again in Paris in all its glory. The next year "it was returned to Bayeux under the jurisdiction of the municipal
library. Today it is on display in Bayeux, located specifically at Centre Guillaume le Conquerant and can be viewed by the general public.
