Brexit and the Bayeux tapestry. Is there a connection?
This post contains Week #184 in the 100 Word Challenge for Grown-ups.
The decision the UK made on 23rd June 2016 seems to have upset the French. Back in 1066 they weren’t happy either. We’ve just come back from a short visit to Normandy and having seen that wonderful work of art yet again, I’ve been thinking about Brexit and the Bayeux tapestry and if there is a connection?
A broken promise
It was an apparent broken promise that brought William over with his army to claim what he rightfully saw as his crown. I say apparent because depending on which side of the English channel you live will your interpretation of the story may be different. England’s previous king, Edward the Confessor had no heirs but he seems to have indicated both to Harold Godwinson, an English noble and William the throne on his death. The beginning of the tapestry depicts Harold’s journey to get the French earl where he is captured before reaching William. The Frenchman, seeing an opportunity to secure his future, offers to save Harold providing he swears allegiance to William as the rightful king to replace Edward.
However, when the time came and Edward died, Harold was crowned and it is this betrayal that so angered the French and led to the Battle of Hastings. The story is retold in a magnificent tapestry which is as bright today as the day it was sewn and in my opinion, should be on every English person’s bucket list!
(These are not photos of THE tapestry obviously but from the exhibition)
The referendum
Almost 950 years after the story above, the French government feel that we have let them down again. It was assumed that the result of the referendum in June would be for the UK to remain in the EU. As we know, that was not the case and we are all going to have to deal with it.
I don’t think another invasion is likely though! In our recent visit to Normandy, the French public didn’t seem to be bothered about it and we didn’t feel obliged to wear a ‘we voted to remain’ badge! However, like 1066 there will be changes to our way of life I’m sure. They may just be a little more subtle.
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups
Apologies for the absence of this popular challenge. Life got in the way but IT’S BACK!
For those of you who are new here and have no idea what this challenge is – you consider the prompt and write a response that includes the prompt – story, reflection, poem – and publish it on your blog then link it back here for others to visit and comment. Take a look at ‘What is 100WCGU?’
Linked with the post ‘Brexit and the Bayeux tapestry’ the prompt is:
…and just when Harold thought it couldn’t get any worse…
It doesn’t have to be THIS Harold! Take it where you want!
The link will close on Sunday
Don’t just like! Have a go!
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Loved the writing challenge idea – even tho I avoided it :0)
As always history, will be told through the eyes of the person ntelling it, and in years to gome both brexit leavers and remainers will be saying “I told you so” For therir own reasons, and in the meantime i’ll be getting on with life
I follow Kimberly Cooper and was intrigued at your “Writing Challenge for Grown-Ups” so I gave it a go! Here’s my effort:
https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/184-in-the-wcgu/
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Love it! Great fun.
Loved the Bayeux tapestry and agree that it is a bucket list item. Can’t say I fancy designing and sewing the tapestry of the travesty that is Brexit.
We certainly wouldn’t be able to put it on public display!!
I can’t help but think of ‘The Guns Of August’ and Barbara Tuchman’s analysis of French and English relations in the lead-up to and the early weeks of the First World War. The reasons why the English held back and the French stood the line against the German advance across pesky little Belgium depends on who is telling the story.
And Sarah’s comment reminds me of the Scots telling of the events when the English pressured them to enter into the Act Of Union after the debacle of the Darien Gap.
The Normans were all Swedish anyway. 🙂
Hee hee!
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I’ve always had problems with Williams so called promise of the throne. He held Harold hostage and threatened to kill him if he didn’t renounce his claim. William was a bully, and a bastard son with no land, and he clearly had some issues. When it came down to it, Harold was the superior warrior, and lost by a fluke and in doing so, changed the course of our history. I may have a bash at your prompt, but I don’t think I could contain myself to just 100 words 😀
I love it when you rant!
It is very confused as to who promised what to whom but I agree it was a fluke of luck to win the battle. If Harold hadn’t already had a battle he might not have been so exhausted. We shall never know.
As for the challenge – the clue is in the title! 😉