Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Serfs under Anglo-Saxon feudal lords became serfs under Norman lords. Norman feudalism was somewhat stricter, but not much, and the economic and social lessons were being learnt and adopted elsewhere anyway.
There's no denying the slaughter in, for example, Yorkshire, though.

But... "Bayeux Embroidery"? I know the man's a cunt, but...

It's an embroidery.

The Sun's front page called it a mural yesterday.

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2026 10:47 am It's an embroidery.

I had to look up what the difference between "tapestry" and "embroidery" was.

Unsurprisingly, I got it wrong - it is indeed an embroidery. So why have we been calling it a tapestry all the time I can remember?

Antiquarians in the 18th century weren't big on needlework knowledge. All wallhangings were, to those estimable noble gentlemen, tapisseries.

Also, it wasn't worked singlehandedly by Matilda (Mrs Conqueror) as was once claimed...

Oboogie wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2026 10:56 am The Sun's front page called it a mural yesterday.

The Sun calls itself a newspaper.

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2026 2:23 pm Antiquarians in the 18th century weren't big on needlework knowledge. All wallhangings were, to those estimable noble gentlemen, tapisseries.

Also, it wasn't worked singlehandedly by Matilda (Mrs Conqueror) as was once claimed...

Yet another detail of the traditional story of 1066 which is wrong.

Oboogie wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2026 3:56 pm

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2026 2:23 pm Antiquarians in the 18th century weren't big on needlework knowledge. All wallhangings were, to those estimable noble gentlemen, tapisseries.

Also, it wasn't worked singlehandedly by Matilda (Mrs Conqueror) as was once claimed...

Yet another detail of the traditional story of 1066 which is wrong.

There's a fucktonne of Victorian authored history that's essentially:

Made up shit to make their present seem normal

Invading places, murdering the inhabitants and pinching their land - Normal.
French(ish) armies being successful - Very recent, and a significant reverse ferret.
Queens doing important stuff (Boudicca, Elizabeth, Cleopatra) - Victoria (Obvs).

Fun fact - Boudica was promoted in importance because her name is the Brythonic equivalent of Victoria - Buddug in modern Welsh.