William and Harold: From allies to enemies
The Bayeux tapestry reveals how William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson, once comrades, became foes in 1066. Their early friendship, highlighted by a rescue in quicksand, is now displayed at the British Museum.
William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson were comrades before they became enemies in 1066 at Hastings. Their early alliance is depicted in the Bayeux tapestry, now on view at the British Museum in London this September.
A friendship forged in battle
The tapestry’s opening panels show William and Harold standing shoulder to shoulder near Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. In 1064, Harold, a powerful English noble, was shipwrecked at Ponthieu in northern France. William demanded that Harold be handed over to him, a move tied to the dispute over the English crown after King Edward’s childless death. Yet the story takes a surprising turn.
William and his warriors marched against Duke Conan of Brittany, taking Harold with them. Harold found himself a tense mix of hostage, guest, and fellow fighter. Near the river Couesnon, the border between Normandy and Brittany, the tapestry depicts the Norman army struggling in quicksand. Men waded through the mud, shields up, only to be swallowed by the shifting sands.
Harold’s heroic rescue
Amid the chaos, Harold dragged soldiers out of the quicksand. The tapestry records, hic Harold dux trahebat eos de arena, showing him gripping a shield with one hand while pulling a soldier from the mud with the other. A Norman foot-soldier clung to Harold’s back as he was carried to safety. Harold’s moustache, a distinguishing feature, sets him apart from William’s clean-shaven men.
The author, a medieval historian, followed the same path across the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel this summer. He described the quicksand’s capricious nature and the danger of walking without an expert guide. The experience mirrored the soldiers’ tramping feet that would have set the sables mouvants in motion.
Praise and caution from chroniclers
Orderic Vitalis, a Norman chronicler, praised Harold as tall, handsome, strong, courageous, eloquent, and humorous. He added that these gifts were meaningless without honour, the root of all good. The tapestry’s borders, rich with bird and fish motifs, also feature twisting eels, a man reaching for them, and symbols of violence such as eagles and a wolf. These elements hint at Harold’s slippery charisma and the looming conflict.
From camaraderie to oath
After the quicksand episode, William and Harold defeated Duke Conan, chasing him from Dol to the citadel of Dinan. Harold was rewarded with arms, and the tapestry shows the two men in a near embrace as William gifts him weapons. William then brought Harold back to Normandy to celebrate and to extract a pivotal oath of loyalty. The tapestry depicts Harold swearing on holy relics, though historians debate what he was truly promising.
The tapestry’s final panels depict the Battle of Hastings, the arrow in the eye, mutilated corpses, and the English fleeing in defeat. Yet the earlier scenes remind readers of the lost comradeship between William and Harold, once brothers in arms.
The author’s book, A History of England in 25 Poems, focuses on the aftermath of Hastings, but the tapestry’s earlier narrative offers a surprising story of friendship, courage, and shared endeavour. The tapestry’s depiction of quicksand and the oath scene are key moments that set the stage for the eventual clash.
See the stats for more context on medieval warfare. Check the fixtures for similar medieval battles. The Conversation UK reports these details.
