Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the Bayeux Tapestry, currently on loan to the British Museum, as "blatant political propaganda" from France that misrepresents the Battle of Hastings.
Johnson contends that the tapestry, which details the Norman conquest of England in 1066, presents a French victory and that the text within it explicitly states that the English "turned tail and fled." He argues that this narrative served the Norman rulers, who were a small minority in England after the conquest.
The tapestry, measuring 230 feet long, illustrates events leading up to and including the Battle of Hastings. Johnson suggests that while it is a "magnificent work of art," its purpose was to depict the English being defeated and subjugated by the French. He points to Latin captions such as "HIC FRANCI PUGNANT" (Here the French are fighting) and "ET FUGA VERTERUNT ANGLI" (And the English turned tail and fled) as evidence of this biased portrayal.
According to Johnson, the Norman Conquest was a "catastrophe for the English," leading to the elimination of the Anglo-Saxon elite and the imposition of Norman French laws and language. He notes that the linguistic impact of this conquest is still evident today, with English vocabulary reflecting the class stratification, such as peasant-reared pigs becoming "pork" for the Norman elite.
Johnson further posits that the tapestry itself was likely created in England, possibly by women in Canterbury, as a form of "Opus Anglicanum" (English work). He suggests that these artisans were compelled to depict William the Conqueror's claim to the throne and Harold's defeat, even if they knew Harold had a better claim, having been elected by the Witenagemot.
He contrasts the tapestry's narrative with historical reality, emphasizing that English, despite being suppressed as the language of the ruling class for centuries, ultimately re-emerged and evolved into a capacious global language. Johnson uses Winston Churchill's World War II speeches as an example of the power of simple, Anglo-Saxon words to rally a nation.
As a parting gesture, Johnson jokingly suggested that Britain could lend France Napoleon's pistols, confiscated at the Battle of Waterloo, in return for the tapestry loan.