Bayeux Tapestry tituli

The Bayeux Tapestry in its museum in Bayeux, France.

The Bayeux Tapestry tituli are captions embroidered on the Bayeux Tapestry describing events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. The tituli are in Medieval Latin.

Description

Detail of embroidered lettering

The Bayeux Tapestry was probably commissioned by William the Conqueror's half-brother, Bishop Odo, possibly at the same time as Bayeux Cathedral's construction in the 1070s, and completed by 1077 in time for display on the cathedral's dedication.[1] It is embroidered in wool yarn on a tabby-woven linen ground using outline or stem stitch for detailing and lettering.[2][3] A dark blue wool, almost black, is used for most of the tapestry's lettering but towards the end other colours are used, sometimes for each word and other times for each letter.

The content of the hanging is primarily pictorial but tituli are included on many scenes of the action to point out names of people and places or to explain briefly the event being depicted.[4] The text is in Latin (which for the most part is grammatically correct), and is extremely direct, with each statement being closely tied to the scenes depicted in a given section.[5][6] The text is frequently abbreviated as indicated by tildes placed over words at the place of omission of a letter. The words themselves are often demarcated by two points (which Lucien Musset likens to colons); sometimes, more important section breaks are demarcated by three points. Many personal names, mostly in English, are not Latinised and the same applies for names of places in England and for Beaurain "Belrem" in France. In places the spelling shows an English influence, such as the phrase "at Hestenga ceasrta", which in proper Latin would be "ad Hastingae castra").[5] Some French names are either archaic ("Rednes") or anglicised ("Bagias").[7] Sometimes "Franci" is used to describe the Normans who at that time certainly did not regard themselves as French.[8]

The end of the tapestry has been missing from time immemorial and the final titulus "Et fuga verterunt Angli" is said by Lucien Musset to be "entirely spurious", added shortly before 1814 at a time of anti-English sentiment.[9] The first word on the tapestry "Edward" is also a restoration.[10]

Latin text with English translation

The English translation provided here is of a literal nature, to reflect the simplicity of the captions themselves. The numbering scheme uses the scene numbers on the tapestry's backing cloth, which were added sometime around 1800.[4]

SceneText[nb 1]Translation[11]Image
1EDWARD[US][nb 2] REXKing Edward
2-3UBI HAROLD DUX ANGLORUM ET SUI MILITES EQUITANT AD BOSHAM ECCLESIA[M]Where Harold, duke of the English, and his knights ride to Bosham Church[12]
4HIC HAROLD MARE NAVIGAVITHere Harold sailed by sea
5ET VELIS VENTO PLENIS VENIT IN TERRA WIDONIS COMITISand with sails filled with wind came to the land of Count Wido[nb 3]
6HAROLDHarold
Higher resolution detail
7HIC APPREHENDIT WIDO HAROLDU[M]Here Wido seized Harold
8ET DUXIT EUM AD BELREM ET IBI EUM TENUITand led him to Beaurain and held him there
9UBI HAROLD ⁊[nb 4] WIDO PARABOLANTWhere Harold and Wido confer
10UBI NUNTII WILLELMI DUCIS VENERUNT AD WIDONE[M]Where the messengers of Duke William came to Wido
TUROLDTurold[nb 5]
11NUNTII WILLELMIThe messengers of William
12HIC VENIT NUNTIUS AD WILGELMUM DUCEMHere the messenger comes to Duke William
13HIC WIDO ADDUXIT HAROLDUM AD WILGELMUM NORMANNORUM DUCEMHere Wido led Harold to William Duke of the Normans
14HIC DUX WILGELM[US] CUM HAROLDO VENIT AD PALATIU[M] SUU[M]Here Duke William comes with Harold to his palace
15UBI UNUS CLERICUS ET ÆLFGYVAWhere a cleric and Ælfgyva ... [nb 6]
Higher resolution detail
16HIC WILLEM[US] DUX ET EXERCITUS EIUS VENERUNT AD MONTE[M] MICHAELISHere Duke William and his army came to the Mount of Michael
17ET HIC TRANSIERUNT FLUMEN COSNONISand here they crossed the Couesnon River
Higher resolution detail
HIC HAROLD DUX TRAHEBAT EOS DE ARENAHere Duke Harold dragged them from the sand
18ET VENERUNT AD DOL ET CONAN FUGA VERTITand they came to Dol and Conan turned in flight
REDNESRennes
19HIC MILITES WILLELMI DUCIS PUGNANT CONTRA DINANTESHere the knights of Duke William fight against the men of Dinan
Higher resolution detail
20ET CUNAN CLAVES PORREXITand Conan passed out the keys
21HIC WILLELM[US] DEDIT ARMA HAROLDOHere William gave arms to Harold
22HIE [sic][nb 7] WILLELM[US] VENIT BAGIASHere William came to Bayeux
23UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTUM FECIT WILLELMO DUCIWhere Harold made an oath to Duke William
24HIC HAROLD DUX REVERSUS EST AD ANGLICAM TERRAMHere Duke Harold returned to English land
25ET VENIT AD EDWARDU[M] REGEMand he came to King Edward
26HIC PORTATUR CORPUS EADWARDI REGIS AD ECCLESIAM S[AN]C[T]I PETRI AP[OSTO]LIHere the body of King Edward is carried to the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle[nb 8]
27HIC EADWARDUS REX IN LECTO ALLOQUIT[UR] FIDELESHere King Edward in bed speaks to his faithful followers
Higher resolution detail
28ET HIC DEFUNCTUS ESTand here he died
29HIC DEDERUNT HAROLDO CORONA[M] REGISHere they gave the king's crown to Harold
30HIC RESIDET HAROLD REX ANGLORUMHere sits Harold King of the English
Higher resolution detail
31STIGANT ARCHIEP[ISCOPU]SArchbishop Stigand
32ISTI MIRANT[UR] STELLA[M]These people marvel at the star[nb 9]
33HAROLDHarold
34HIC NAVIS ANGLICA VENIT IN TERRAM WILLELMI DUCISHere an English ship came to the land of Duke William
35HIC WILLELM[US] DUX JUSSIT NAVES [A]EDIFICAREHere Duke William ordered ships to be built
36HIC TRAHUNT NAVES AD MAREHere they drag the ships to the sea
37ISTI PORTANT ARMAS AD NAVES ET HIC TRAHUNT CARRUM CUM VINO ET ARMISThese men carry arms to the ships and here they drag a cart (laden) with wine and arms
38HIC WILLELM[US] DUX IN MAGNO NAVIGIO MARE TRANSIVIT ET VENIT AD PEVENESÆHere Duke William in a great ship crossed the sea and came to Pevensey
39HIC EXEUNT CABALLI DE NAVIBUSHere the horses leave the ships
40ET HIC MILITES FESTINAVERUNT HESTINGA UT CIBUM RAPERENTURand here the knights have hurried to Hastings to seize food
Higher resolution detail
41HIC EST WADARDHere is Wadard[nb 10]
42HIC COQUITUR CARO ET HIC MINISTRAVERUNT MINISTRIHere the meat is being cooked and here the servants have served (it)
43HIC FECERUN[T] PRANDIUMHere they have a meal
HIC EPISCOPUS CIBU[M] ET POTU[M] BENEDICITHere the bishop blesses the food and drink
Higher resolution detail
44ODO EP[ISCOPU]S WILLEM[US] ROTBERTBishop Odo, William, Robert
45ISTE JUSSIT UT FODERETUR CASTELLUM AT HESTENGA[nb 11]He ordered that a motte should be dug at Hastings
Higher resolution detail
CEASTRA[nb 12]the camp
46HIC NUNTIATUM EST WILLELM[O] DE HAROLD[O]Here William was told about Harold
47HIC DOMUS INCENDITURHere a house is burned
48HIC MILITES EXIERUNT DE HESTENGA ET VENERUNT AD PR[O]ELIUM CONTRA HAROLDUM REGE[M]Here the knights have left Hastings and have come to the battle against King Harold
Higher resolution detail
49HIC WILLELM[US] DUX INTERROGAT VITAL[EM] SI VIDISSET HAROLDI EXERCITU[M]Here Duke William asks Vital[nb 13] if he has seen Harold's army
50ISTE NUNTIAT HAROLDUM REGE[M] DE EXERCITU WILLELMI DUCISThis man tells King Harold about Duke William's army
51HIC WILLELM[US] DUX ALLOQUITUR SUIS MILITIBUS UT PREPAREN[T] SE VIRILITER ET SAPIENTER AD PR[O]ELIUM CONTRA ANGLORUM EXERCITU[M]Here Duke William speaks to[nb 14] his knights to prepare themselves manfully and wisely for the battle against the army of the English
52HIC CECIDERUNT LEWINE ET GYRD FRATRES HAROLDI REGISHere fell Leofwine and Gyrth, brothers of King Harold
53HIC CECIDERUNT SIMUL ANGLI ET FRANCI IN PR[O]ELIOHere English and French fell at the same time in battle
Higher resolution detail
54HIC ODO EP[ISCOPU]S BACULU[M] TENENS CONFORTAT PUEROSHere Bishop Odo, holding a club, gives strength to the boys
55HIC EST WILLEL[MUS] DUXHere is Duke William
56E[USTA]TIUSEustace
Higher resolution detail
HIC FRANCI PUGNANT ET CECIDERUNT QUI ERANT CUM HAROLDOHere the French are fighting and have killed those who were with Harold
57HIC HAROLD REX INTERFECTUS ESTHere King Harold is slain
Higher resolution detail
58ET FUGA VERTERUNT ANGLI[nb 15]and the English have turned in flight
Higher resolution detail

Notes

  1. ↑ Letters in square brackets are omitted on the tapestry either by way of abbreviation or where they are implied by a macron diacritic on the previous letter.
  2. ↑ The Bayeux Tapestry scholar Lucien Musset argues that "Edward" is anachronistic (as his name is spelled elsewhere on the tapestry as "Eadwardus") and that it was almost certainly added by restorers, given that the name is missing in 18th century copies.[10]
  3. ↑ Wido is Guido or Guy, count of Ponthieu.[13]
  4. ↑ This symbol, resembling a right-angled 7, is a Tironian note abbreviation for et ("and").[5]
  5. ↑ Possibly a member of either or Duke William or Bishop Odo's entourage.[14]
  6. ↑ A verb is missing, which makes this image the greatest mystery in the Tapestry. The historian D. C. Douglas commented as follows: "The similarity of attitude between the clerk and the semi-obscene figure in the lower margin will not escape notice, nor will the absence of a verb in the legend. Perhaps the dovecot and the doves in the upper border have an erotic significance, and the whole episode may possibly refer to some scandal, then notorious, but now advantageously forgotten".[15] Theories on the woman and her relationship with the cleric abound, ranging from being an embroidress to receiving anger, lewdness or affection on part of the clergyman.[16]
  7. ↑ This word is a miss-spelling of the demonstrative pronoun hic.[17][18]
  8. ↑ I.e. Westminster Abbey.[19]
  9. ↑ I.e. Halley's comet.[20]
  10. ↑ A vassal of Bishop Odo.[21]
  11. ↑ The spelling of the Latin word ad here has been cited by some in favour of the theory that the Tapestry was made in England.[22]
  12. ↑ The spelling of the Latin word castra here has been cited by some in favour of the theory that the Tapestry was made in England.[22]
  13. ↑ Possibly a vassal of Bishop Odo.[23]
  14. ↑ Or "harangues".[24]
  15. ↑ This caption was missing in 18th century copies. Musset refers to this line as "entirely spurious" and the result of "heavy-handed restoration".[9]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Stenton (1961).
  2. ↑ Coatsworth (2005), p. 23.
  3. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 19.
  4. 1 2 Musset (2011).
  5. 1 2 3 Musset (2011), p. 35.
  6. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 36.
  7. ↑ Musset (2011), pp. 35–6.
  8. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 37.
  9. 1 2 Musset (2011), p. 266.
  10. 1 2 Musset (2011), p. 88.
  11. ↑ Translations based mainly on Stenton (1965), Hicks (2006), Musset (2002), p. 270; and Musset (2011), pp. 266, 270.
  12. ↑ Integral scene per Douglas (1961), p. 233.
  13. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 104.
  14. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 112.
  15. ↑ Douglas (1961), p. 234, plate XVIII
  16. ↑ "Aelfgyva: The Mysterious Lady of the Bayeux Tapestry". Medievalists.net. August 24, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  17. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 114.
  18. ↑ Walls (1962), p. 3. "Some inconsistencies of orthography can be accounted for as slips of the needle [...] for example, 'hie' for 'hic'".
  19. ↑ Jenkyns (2011), p. 130.
  20. ↑ Olson & Pasachoff (1987), p. 2.
  21. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 208.
  22. 1 2 Douglas (1961) p. 237.
  23. ↑ Musset (2011), p. 224.
  24. ↑ Plaché (1867), p. 151.

Sources

  • Coatsworth, Elizabeth (2005). "Stitches in Time: Establishing a History of Anglo-Saxon Embroidery". In Netherton, Robin; Owen-Crocker, Gale R. Medieval Clothing and Textiles. 1. Suffolk, UK: Boydell & Brewer. pp. 1–27.
  • Douglas, D.C., ed. (1961). "Bayeux Tapestry". English Historical Documents 1042–1189. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode. pp. 232–78.
  • Hicks, Carola (2006). The Bayeux Tapestry: The Life Story of a Masterpiece. London, UK: Vintage Books. ISBN 9781407065885.
  • Jenkyns, Richard (2011). Westminster Abbey: A Thousand Years of National Pageantry. London, UK: Profile Books. ISBN 9781847650825.
  • Musset, Lucien (2002). La Tapisserie de Bayeux (in French). Paris, France: Éditions Zodiaque. ISBN 9782736902810.
  • Musset, Lucien (2011). The Bayeux Tapestry. Translated by Rex, Richard. Suffolk, UK: Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 9781843831631.
  • Olson, J. M.; Pasachoff, M. (1987). "New Information on Comet P/Halley as Depicted by Giotto di Bondone and Other Western Artists". Astronomy and Astrophysics (187): 1–11.
  • Plaché, J. R. (1867). "On the Bayeux Tapestry". Journal of the British Archaeological Association. 23: 134–56.
  • Stenton, Frank (1965). The Bayeux Tapestry. Phaedon Press.
  • Walls, Sidney (1962). "The Bayeux Tapestry: Its Sources and Influence". Scripta Humanistica Kentuckiensia. 6. Retrieved October 20, 2017 – via the University of Florida Libraries.
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