A long-standing historical debate over whether King Harold II was shot in the eye during the Battle of Hastings has been addressed by the curator of the Bayeux Tapestry. Professor Michael Lewis, Curator of The Bayeux Tapestry and former Head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum, stated that the depiction of an arrow in the eye of Harold was 'certainly added later' during 19th-century restorations.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lewis explained that while the stitching of the arrow is present in the tapestry as it exists today, it was not part of the original embroidery. He noted that the tapestry underwent significant restoration in the 19th century, and the arrow detail was likely added during this period. The question of whether the arrow was ever present in the original work remains uncertain.
The Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-meter-long embroidered cloth, depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. One of its most discussed scenes shows a figure identified by an inscription as 'Harold rex interfectus est' ('King Harold is killed'). This figure is often interpreted as having an arrow in his eye.
Historians have proposed several interpretations of this scene. Some believe it depicts Harold being shot in the eye. Others suggest the figure with the arrow is not Harold, but rather a different individual, with Harold being represented by the adjacent figure being struck down by a Norman soldier on horseback. A third theory posits that both figures represent Harold in consecutive moments.
Professor Lewis elaborated that the tradition of Harold's death by an arrow to the eye emerged around the 13th century, significantly later than the tapestry's creation. He, along with other scholars, suspects that Harold may not have originally been depicted with an arrow in his eye.
Further analysis conducted during a tapestry conservation in 1982 revealed that the first figure identified as Harold likely held a spear. Early drawings of the tapestry from the 1720s by Bernard Montfaucon show only holes where the arrow now appears. However, Charles Stothard's drawings from around 1817 depicted an arrow, suggesting he may have influenced later restorers based on the prevailing narrative of Harold's death.
The Bayeux Tapestry is considered a crucial cultural artifact, featuring 58 scenes, 626 figures, and 202 horses, along with depictions of various objects and animals. It is believed to have been created in England in the 11th century. The tapestry begins with events in 1064, detailing Harold Godwinson's journey to Normandy and leading up to William, Duke of Normandy's invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066.
The tapestry's historical journey includes periods of confiscation during the French Revolution, its display in Paris under Napoleon, and its removal by the Gestapo during World War II, before ultimately being returned to Bayeux.