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| For links to some good photos from the re-enactment of Hastings in October 2000, see Peter James of The Vikings, England Tomasz Nowak and Thorsten Piepenbrink in Germany (the last one has some particularly good shots of the battle, with the cavalry charging, bloodshed and mayhem . . .) |
| Me at Battle, taken by Peter James of The Vikings. |
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| Me with a Norman hostage (Arnaud le Fevre's mum). Looking at my face I realize that I must have been partying harder than I thought on Friday night. (photo by Hag Dik, Normandy) |
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| I even got into a recently produced French book on the Battle of Hastings, as an example of the archetypal Englisc warrior. Roughly translated, the text says: |
| All superfluous hair was a nuisance. It's the war-gear which dictates the fashion.[Just as an aside, I don't subscribe to this theory: SL] This seems to be confirmed when one observes the servants who surround William's army at the moment of loading the ships and in the camp at Hastings; they don't have shaven necks. In particular shaven thus: Count Guy de Ponthieu, Duke William the guards of his retinue, etc. Many among the Saxons, at least the nobles, wore a moustache and mid-length hair. This is the case for Harold and his brother Gyrth, but not his brother Leofwine.' |
| 'Hair and Moustaches The "Bayeux Tapestry" also provides us with very interesting elements of the fashions of the times. Among other things, these make it possible to distinguish between the protagonists. The Normans are always represented beardless, hair normally short and chiefly with the nape of the neck shaved.This usage seems to be reserved to the horsemen of the aristocracy. Its origin was utilitarian. The horseman's head was enclosed within the camail (the mail hood) and under the conical helmet. |
| The caption says "This Englishman, a participant in Hastings 2000, reproduces fairly faithfully a Saxon knight of 1066. He wears the moustache and mid-length hair but also the mail hauberk reaching to the elbows and the knees like the Normans. Compare this with the extract from the Bayeux Tapestry opposite, showing Harold and his companions arriving at Bosham". |
| Egfroth at Hastings 2000 |
| In October 2000, in company with a bunch of other Aussie re-enactors and others from all over the world, I took part in the re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings, on the very field where the conflict took place. LOTS of fun, lots of mud, lots of partying, drinking etc. We had about 1000 combatants overall, with maybe as many as 100 cavalry. Very spectacular. I got interviewed by Australian TV's Foreign Correspondent programme (I got the video!) - oh, and so did the other Aussies. I AM known as a media slut. I can hear the words "photo opportunity" from a distance of five miles, if the wind's in the right direction. |
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| Me (circled) in the Englisc shieldwall. What was I doing over there by myself? I hear you cry. Looking out for the cavalry coming from the flank! AAAARGGGHHH!!!! |
| More photos of the battle |
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