Did King Harold die because of the arrow in the eye or did he fall down and get hacked to death in the Battle Of Hastings?

Free_will

hacked to death killed him. the arrow just injured him and he fell. The Normans chopped body parts off from him. Aug 11 03, 10:42 AM

jackolant

According the Bayeux Tapestry he *was* injured in the eye and its unlikely that this wasn't fatal... The Normans chopping up his body parts is probably incidental. Aug 11 03, 11:09 AM

mibmob

It is still disputed astop how the BAyeux tap says he died- some say it is the arrow pic other say the pic of the guy off the horse is Harold. Aug 11 03, 1:13 PM

gmackematix

Isn't the figure struck by an arrow being hit in the noseguard and not the eye? Also, the Latin "Hic Harold Rex interfectus est" (Here King Harold is killed) ends above a figure being struck by a sword. Traditionally, death was signified by a bending figure while the one hit with an arrow is upright. On the evidence of the embroidery (strictly speaking it is not a tapestry despite the name) the sword is looking good. In fact the battle wasn't even at Hastngs but at Senlac Hlll! At least we get the year right. Aug 11 03, 10:48 PM

mibmob

Yes, you are right - this is the controversy and there is a telly programme on about it some time - sorry I was at easyeverything yesterday and they have clapped out keyboards and charge the earth these days so coudn't say all of this then. Aug 12 03, 8:09 AM

godwinson

no, the battle wasnt at hastings, but hastings was the closest place of reference. the village that grew around the abbey, built on the battlefield, is indeed called battle. the most contempory account of the battle which was written by a monk who used to be a soldier, was written sometime around 1067 and it gives us the most probable account of the death of Harold. it claims that after the shield wall had broken during the breton flight a hit squad of mounted knights burst the lines and slayed Harold where he stood. the arrow in the eye was a common depiction of what would happen to perjurers in the bible. as Williams main claim to the throne involved accusing Harold of such, it stands to reason that, for propaganda purposes, he would illuminate such an idea in such an inspirational piece. stitch marks on the back of the tapestry show the "arrow" in the eye was at one point, longer and without flights, ending past his shoulder. a common depiction of a spear or javelin in the piece. Sep 24 09, 12:16 PM

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