What is the Bayeux tapestry?
The Bayeux tapestry was made by the Normans to celebrate their victory over the English in 1066. It is a huge series of pictures depicting incidents during the conquest. The pictures are sewn on a strip of cloth 70 m in length. At one time, the tapestry was even longer, but a section of it is now missing.
How did the Norman invasion change the English language?
Up until the Norman invasion, people in England spoke in Old English. The Normans spoke a form of French, and they insisted on the use of French as the language of educated people. Most of the ruling classes spoke nothing else but French.
Over the years the languages spoken by the common people and the nobility became closer, until an entirely new language evolved. Modern English, which is descended from this mixture, still contains the recognizable remains of Saxon and French words. For example, the word ‘cow’ is descended from the Saxon word, while the word ‘beef’ is related to the French word.
Why did the Normans win the Battle of Hastings?
The Normans won the battle because the English armies were exhausted from previous fighting and were too far away to stop the invasion. After the death of Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinsson was appointed king of England. However, Harald Hardrada of Norway also claimed the English crown and invaded northern England. He was defeated by the army of Harold Godwinsson near York.
Three days later the Normans invaded at Hastings in the south. The English army was forced to dash the length of England in order to fight the invaders. Exhausted when they arrived, they were soon defeated. King Harold was killed during the battle, and was succeeded by the Norman king William the First, or William the Conqueror.
Pictures Credit: Google