Halley’s Comet and Harold | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Duration: 4'27''

Synopsis

Halley's Comet, although discovered many years later, is believed to be visible in the Tapestry and is a sign of the heavens warning against King Harold's reign.

Further Information

More clips from Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Boat-building | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Boat-building | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 4'25''

One particular enlightening archaeological lesson was how boats were built.

Castles | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Castles | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 2'29''

The Tapestry also reveals a new type of a castle being built by the Normans, ones that are raised for strategic military advantage.

Commissioner | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Commissioner | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 2'21''

It is thought the commissioner of the Tapestry was William's brother Odo, as he features regularly and always in a good light.

Food | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Food | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 4'56''

With bone analysis, scientists can study medieval eating habits and correlate with what is shown in the Tapestry.

Historical findings | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Historical findings | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 2'23''

It archaeological value is priceless as it clearly shows medieval objects and how they are used.

Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 59'17''

Experts from archaeologists to astrophysicists offer new insights on the Bayeux Tapestry, an artefact which, despite its fame, has remained ...

Origins | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Origins | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 3'22''

It is likely a group of women embroiders made the Tapestry in Canterbury, Kent as details of the Bayeux are likened to a British m...

Purpose | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Purpose | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 1'56''

Ultimately the artwork's purpose is to justify the invasion, whilst unsuccessfully attempting to reconcile the victors and the van...

Restoration | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Restoration | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 2'40''

The Bayeux Tapestry was rediscovered in the 1800's are due its embroidery, isn't strictly a tapestry. It has been restored sev...

The Battle of Hastings | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

The Battle of Hastings | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 6'22''

The Tapestry reveals much about soldiers armoury and how the Battle of Hastings was fought.

The Story | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

The Story | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 3'01''

A run-through of the story told by the Bayeux Tapestry.

More resources about Norman conquest and feudalism

1: 1066 | Historyonics

1: 1066 | Historyonics

BBC One | 2004 | 29'01''

Nick Knowles sets out to find the truth behind the story of William the Conqueror and King Harold. Why and how did the two protagonists of the Battle ...

1: Age of Conquest | Seven Ages of Britain

1: Age of Conquest | Seven Ages of Britain

BBC HD | 2010 | 59'09''

David Dimbleby charts the last 2,000 years of Britain through its art and treasure. The first part begins with the Roman invasion ...

1: Instruments of Invasion | Castles: Britain's Fortified History

1: Instruments of Invasion | Castles: Britain's Fortified History

BBC Four | 2014 | 58'59''

Sam Willis shows how the castle arrived as an instrument of invasion with the Normans but became a weapon w...

1: Romans to Normans | Michael Wood's Story of England

1: Romans to Normans | Michael Wood's Story of England

BBC Four | 2010 | 58'57''

Michael Wood uncovers the history of Kibworth's first 1,000 years, with a Roman villa, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and evide...

1: The Norman Conquest | History File

1: The Norman Conquest | History File

BBC Two | 1994 | 19'02''

For his part in the Norman Conquest, Alan the Red was rewarded with vast estates all over England. Programme visits Alan's castle in Yo...

1: The Normans and their Castles | Castle

1: The Normans and their Castles | Castle

Channel 4 | 2003 | 49'14''

Marc Morris consults the Bayeux Tapestry and archaeological evidence to discover how castles evolved over a 600-year period, and re...

1066: A Year to Conquer England

1066: A Year to Conquer England

BBC Two | 2017 | 58'27''

Dan Snow explores the political intrigues and family betrayals between Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans that led to war and the Battle of Ha...

2: Domesday to Magna Carta | Michael Wood's Story of England

2: Domesday to Magna Carta | Michael Wood's Story of England

BBC Four | 2010 | 59'08''

Michael Wood's unique portrait of one village through the whole of English history moves on to 1066, when the in...

2: The Battle of Hastings | Battlefield Britain

2: The Battle of Hastings | Battlefield Britain

BBC Two | 2004 | 58'14''

Peter and Dan Snow on the battles that shaped our nation, using state-of-the-art graphics. The story of the turbulent events ...

3: Gangs | The Long View

3: Gangs | The Long View

BBC Radio 4 | 2003 | 27'50''

Benjamin Zephaniah is among the guests joining Jonathan Freedland for a story of thuggery and intimidation in medieval Leicestershire that sheds lig...

3: The Arrival of Chess | Games People Played

3: The Arrival of Chess | Games People Played

BBC Two | 1981 | 9'56''

Michael Dean and David BROWN from the Ashmolean Museum Oxford, discuss the arrival of chess in England at the time of the Norma...

5: Durham Cathedral | Britain's Best Buildings

5: Durham Cathedral | Britain's Best Buildings

BBC Parliament | 2017 | 48'05''

Dan Cruickshank investigates Durham Cathedral, a structure utilising advanced engineering that was a century ahead of its time.

A successful Viking invasion and an introduction to Edward the Confessor | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

A successful Viking invasion and an introduction to Edward the Confessor | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'45''

Simon Schama explores the circumstances in which Edward the C...

Boat-building | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Boat-building | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 4'25''

One particular enlightening archaeological lesson was how boats were built.

Castles | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Castles | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 2'29''

The Tapestry also reveals a new type of a castle being built by the Normans, ones that are raised for strategic military advantage.

Commissioner | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

Commissioner | Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry

BBC Four | 2022 | 2'21''

It is thought the commissioner of the Tapestry was William's brother Odo, as he features regularly and always in a good light.

Design of the Book | Domesday

Design of the Book | Domesday

BBC Two | 2010 | 2'24''

Dr Stephen Baxter explores the layout and design of the Doomsday Book.

Domesday

Domesday

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'04''

Dr Stephen Baxter reveals the human and political drama that lies within the parchment of England's earliest surviving public record, the Domesday Book, commissione...

Episode 2 | 1066: A Year to Conquer England

Episode 2 | 1066: A Year to Conquer England

BBC Two | 2017 | 58'22''

King Harold of England has to take on two invasion forces. His brother Tostig attacks the south coast, then King Harald Hardrada ...

Episode 3 | 1066: A Year to Conquer England

Episode 3 | 1066: A Year to Conquer England

BBC Two | 2017 | 58'50''

Duke William leads his vast invasion fleet across the Channel to face King Harold. The two armies meet at battle in Sussex on 14 ...