AD1066 Battle of Hastings
Reference Book - The Chronicles of Battle Abbey

This page shows the documentary evidence available for 'The Battle of Hastings'

Anglo Saxon Chronicles The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great (r. 871–899). Multiple copies were made of that one original and then distributed to monasteries across England, where they were independently updated. In one case, the Chronicle was still being actively updated in 1154.(for further details see Wikipedia) Fairly limited details regarding the Battle can be found Battle Abbey Chronicles The Chronicle of Battle Abbey, edited and translated by Eleanor Searle consists of two document bound together to describe the circumstances of the formation of the Abbey in Battle in order to avoid taxes claimed to be due to the King around 1180AD. The first document covered the initial period of the invasion and battle up to the building of the abbey foundations(folios 1-21). The second author writes the book concerning the site of the church at Battle and possessions given to it by William. The two were bound into one and became the Chronicle of Battle Abbey and the founding authorisation of the abbey. (see The Secrets of the Norman Invasion. Bayeux_Tapestry The Bayeux Tapestry was most likely commissioned by William the Conqueror's half-brother, Bishop Odo, it would seem that this was at the same time as Bayeux Cathedral's construction in the 1070s, and completed by 1077 in time for display at the cathedral's dedication. It is believed it was sewn by ladies from Tenterden in Kent and transported to Bayeux when complete. The Tapestry or more accurately an embroidery is about 70 metres long and was first recorded in in 1476 when it was recorded in the cathedral treasury at Bayeux as 'a very long and narrow hanging on which are embroidered figures and inscriptions comprising a representation of the conquest of England'. The text in italics is the latin wording from the tapestry, the english in () is the translation. We have ignored all but the Battle of Hastings scenes, but if you wish to see the earlier scenes please click Here. Carmen de Triumpho Normannico Carmen de Triumpho Normannico(Song of the Triumphant Normans) or Carmen de Haestingae Proelio(Song of Hastings) are 20th century names for the Carmen Widonis, the earliest history of the Norman invasion of England from September to December 1066, which was written in Latin probably by May 1068. It is attributed to Bishop Guy of Amiens, a noble of Ponthieu and monastically-trained bishop and administrator close to the French court, who eventually served as a chaplain for Matilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror's queen. Guy was an uncle to Count Guy of Ponthieu, who figures rather prominently in the Bayeux Tapestry as the vassal of Duke William of Normandy who captured Harold Godwinson in 1064. (for further details see Wikipedia) This page contains limited extracts from the Translation by Kathleen Tyson who has published it as ISBN 978149204751. Florence of Worcester Florence of Worcester (died 1118), known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140. The nature and extent of his contributions remain unclear. The usual starting point for an examination of his career is the notice of his death in the final entry for the year 1118 in the Chronicon: On 7 July, the Worcester monk Florence died. His meticulous learning and scholarly labours have made this chronicle of chronicles outstanding among all others. Earlier generations of scholars took this to mean that Florence was the principal author of the chronicle for the entries before 1118, an assumption which led to its being commonly referred to as the 'Chronicle of Florence (of Worcester)'. However, it is now recognised that the work as it survives today was authored by John, a fellow monk at Worcester, whose signature is found in two later entries (1128 and 1138). He was found working on it at the behest of Wulfstan, bishop of Worcester (d. 1095), when the Anglo-Norman chronicler Orderic Vitalis visited Worcester sometime in the early 12th century. (see Wikipedia). Henry of Huntingdon Henry of Huntingdon the son of a canon in the diocese of Lincoln, was a 12th-century English historian, the author of a history of England, the Historia Anglorum. He served as archdeacon of Huntingdon. He was brought up in the wealthy court of Robert Bloet of Lincoln, who became his patron, At the request of Bloet's successor, Alexander of Lincoln, Henry began to write his Historia Anglorum, first published around 1129, an account of the history of England from its beginnings up to the year 1154. (see Wikipedia). Master Wace Wace (c. AD1099 – after AD1174), sometimes referred to as Robert Wace, was a Norman poet, who was born in Jersey and brought up in mainland Normandy, ending his career as Canon of Bayeux. All that is known of Wace's life comes from autobiographical references in his poems. He neglected to mention his birthdate; some time between 1099 and 1111 is the most commonly accepted year of his birth. (see Wikipedia). William of Jumièges/Orderic Vitalis(Gesta) William of Jumièges was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of the earliest writers on the subject of the Norman conquest of England. William of Jumièges was the original compiler of the history known as the Gesta Normannorum Ducum ('Deeds of the Dukes of the Normans'), written in about 1070, which was expanded by Orderic Vitalis in the early 1100's. Orderic Vitalis (1075AD – c.?1142AD) was an English chronicler and Benedictine monk who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th- and 12th-century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. Orderic was born on 16 February 1075 in Atcham, Shropshire, England, the eldest son of a French priest, Odelerius of Orléans, who had entered the service of Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, and had received from his patron a chapel there. (see Wikipedia). William of Malmesbury William of Malmesbury (c.?1095AD – c.?1143AD) was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. He has been ranked among the most talented English historians since Bede. William was born about 1095 or 1096 in Wiltshire. His father was Norman and his mother English, and spent his whole life in England and his adult life as a monk at Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire, England. (see Wikipedia). Quedam Exceptiones de Historia Normannorum et Anglorum Quedam Exceptiones de Historia Normannorum et Anglorum, this text for the Battle of Hastings 1066 was believed to have been written about 1101AD by a monk from Battle Abbey. Click HERE for the full text. This text was translated by Kathleen Tyson who has also translated the Carmen de Triumpho_Normannico. Phases of the Battle of Hastings 1066AD