Tuesday Tally

The Bastard's Conquest Research Edition

We've published half a dozen magazine articles about the Normans, the Norman Conquest of Britain, and William the Bastard.

So when it comes to researching The Bastard's Conquest we are prepared.

To that end, here's a list of our best sources on the Norman Conquest.

The Bayeux Tapestry, the Monks of Bayeux: This was commissioned in Normandy in the 1080s and is a visual retelling of the evens of 1066. It is a highly accurate visual depiction showing arms, mail, the tactics of the Battle of Hastings and so on.  The Tapestry is a wonderful primary source. Alert reader(s) will notice we have a reproduction of the Tapestry in the background of our guitar videos.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: the chronicle is an illuminated manuscript, a record kept by monks for the marking of time and holidays. It reads thusly,'In this year the great Heathen Army raided Lindesfarne' or 'In this year a great star was spotted in the sky'. Gradually the entries became more detailed until the monks were writing actual history amounting to multiple paragraphs. Several dozen such passages chronicle the events of 1066 and William's reign over England.

Harold, the Last Anglo Saxon King, Ian W. Walker: A pithy and fun biography of Harold and his times which can be read over a weekend.

William the Conqueror, David C. Douglas: A long and in-depth biography of William the Bastard. It's all here from William's life, to his times, to his wars for Normandy, the conquest, his administration of England and his dealings with the Church.

The Battle of Hastings, Jim Bradbury: Another pithy history by a classic medieval historian. Interestingly Bradbury argues that they may not have the location of the battle right. He makes a compelling case.