The exhibition of a medieval embroidered cloth measuring 230 feet, known as the Bayeux Tapestry, has been a great success at the British Museum. The first batch of tickets sold out in one day, forcing the museum to extend its opening hours to accommodate the large number of visitors.
Curators note that public interest in this exhibition is 'exceptional'. The exhibition, centered around the tapestry which is on temporary loan from France, runs until July, but there is a real 'Bayeux moment' in Britain, spreading to podcasts, BBC documentaries, and political discussions about the country's past and future.
Questions arise about the distinctiveness of the English people and the fate of the ancient Anglo-Saxons, as well as the influence of French heritage, which is explained by the event being called the 'Norman Conquest'. Historians warn that since the tapestry was commissioned by the victors, its narrative should be viewed with some skepticism, especially when studying the history of William, Duke of Normandy, and his bloody invasion of England 960 years ago.
This fragile tapestry, returned to England after almost a thousand years for the first time, depicts the culminating moment of the Battle of Hastings, which took place in southern England on October 14, 1066—a date well known to every British schoolchild. Approximately a quarter of the 76 yards of Bayeux embroidery shows scenes of this battle, where William crossed the English Channel with an invasion to defeat the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, in a grand clash of armies.
Every year, this epic battle is brought to life by the charity English Heritage, which stages what the Telegraph calls the 'Battle Reenactment Super Bowl', in the shadow of the ruined Benedictine monastery built by William to commemorate his triumph. This year's show was completely sold out.
On opposite sides of Senlac Hill, near Battle Abbey, hundreds of reenactors began the weekend in two living history camps—one for the Saxons, the other for the Normans. They emerged from canvas tents where many slept on sheepskins, wrapped in woolen cloaks. Participants lit smoky fires and had breakfast with 11th-century dishes such as porridge, bacon, and eggs, served in wooden bowls.
These groups are self-governing and strictly ensure their attire is not machine-stitched. They recreate their tunics, amulets, helmets, veils, tools, and weapons based on archaeological findings. When paying spectators began entering the camps, participants exchanged phrases: 'We are authentic!', which is compared to a film director's cry: 'Actor!'
Care was taken to hide any 21st-century items to avoid disrupting the atmosphere for either the spectators or the reenactors themselves, who admit that spending two days in damp medieval boots, heavily armed and without mobile phones, can feel like a journey through time.
Two major organizations—Vikings and Regia Anglorum—provide actors for the reenactment, and they take their roles seriously, training in forming shield walls, shooting arrows with rubber tips, thrusting spears, and wielding Dane axes. They train for months on the safe use of replicated medieval weaponry, which is heavy and metallic and can cause bruises but not cut, as the edges are blunt.
Before the battle, the sides lined up while security staff inspected blades to ensure no 'dangerous items' were present. On the Saxon side, fighters repeated old jokes, such as: 'This is our year.' They also shouted: 'Death to the usurper!'
Mitchell Lawrence, a reenactor who played the soon-to-be-deceased King Harold II (spoiler: he is shot in the eye with an arrow), greeted visitors near his tent, allowing the public to take selfies. Lawrence, in character as Harold, urged his people not to surrender: 'If the shield wall breaks, England falls.' Darren Orrit, one of the king's elite bodyguards, dubbed a housecarl, suggested that he and his comrades would be considered 'losers' by President Donald Trump. He shrugged. Housecarls would fiercely oppose the actors playing William's troops.
Orrit stated: 'We want the Normans to remember, if it wasn't staged, they would have been the losers.' Among the soldiers lined up to meet King Harold was Denis Leforest, a university student from France pursuing a master's degree in history. He expressed support for the Saxon king.
Afterward, he commented: 'This is an important moment in European history, and as you can feel here, even in this reenactment, no matter how bloody the battle was.' Leforest noted that it is useful both to read history and to try to feel it a little. He was impressed by the banners flying over the Norman army, blessed by the Pope, 'which gives a better understanding of what it was a Christian versus Christian battle.'
Leforest speculated that if 500 reenactors participated in today's presentation as infantry, plus a dozen knights on horseback, 'imagine a real day, 2000 people on horses? Thousands of infantry?'
According to the tapestry, the battle included repeated attacks, 'arrow storms', strategic retreats, diversionary maneuvers, cavalry charges, and finally, close combat. Leforest wondered where they put all the dead.
As the sides entered the field, the show's host encouraged the crowd to cheer for one side, as if Hastings were a professional wrestling match. It was obvious who he supported. He called William a 'snake's head' and a 'master of trickery'. The crowd roared: 'Boo!'
Raffy Thomas, a reenactor from a group originally founded by York University students, said: 'I think the audience identifies more with the Saxons as English. But, you know, we English are also Normans.'
During the performance, King Harold portrays the Normans as invaders, plunderers, and rapists who will kill English children. The Saxon king calls on his people to fight for England—otherwise.
William the Conqueror truly transformed England, shifting it away from Scandinavia towards continental Europe. He established a new ruling elite, turned slavery into serfdom, introduced surnames, built stone castles with moats, and created a strict feudal system of land ownership. The language of the upper class also became Old French.
Katie Murphy acts as the Cunungr, or leader, of Britain's oldest and largest early medieval historical reenactment association. She accused the Victorians of romanticizing the Anglo-Saxons, portraying them as heroic and doomed, 'which they were', but added that this is not the whole story.
Murphy emphasized: 'Who we are—and what the public doesn't always understand—is both sides of the battle. We are a product of the Normans, the Saxons, and everyone else,' adding that medieval English originated from Romans, Vikings, Celts, and other peoples. She also noted that England had a Danish king, King Cnut, when it was governed as part of the North Sea Empire.
The battle unfolded as described in the tapestry. Initially, the Saxons held their ground. They repelled the Normans, who were supposed to ascend the hill for the confrontation. At one point, William seemed to fall from his horse, but he survived and rallied his forces. The host reminded the crowd that this was a fight to the death: 'slashing blows, cutting, stabbing, severing arms, gouging eyes.'
After Harold's defeat, William rode past the crowd while the host pleaded: 'Pay tribute to your new king! To your new lords!' There followed several shouts of disapproval, and then several more cheers of approval.
In the end, who doesn't love the winner?