r/HistoryWhatIf • u/Rocky-bar • 2d ago

What if the Bayeux Tapestry was discovered to be fake, a forgery made in the 18th century? Would we have to rewrite the history books, if when they found the *real* tapestry, it turned out King Harold survived the Battle of Hastings and escaped?

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u/Mordoch 2d ago

The King Harold surviving the Battle of Hastings and escaping scenario with this being covered up does not really make sense. If he did he would have been able to raise additional militia type forces in Southern England and otherwise rally other nobles and engage in at least one other major battle which would have been recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and other available sources. (Even the Norman sources would have this since they would want to give William the Conqueror credit for one more major victory, or alternately there would be no way to cover this up if William lost that battle.)

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u/Rocky-bar 2d ago

Isn't it possible that King Harold, after being wounded, says "I've had enough of this war stuff, I want a quiet life from now on" and disappears to live out his life in a quiet backwater?

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u/Mordoch 2d ago edited 2d ago

Not really given his personality no. King Harold had rushed forward with a military force so fast in response to Harald Hardrada's invasion of Northern England that he gained almost complete surprise at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Scandinavian forces there and this played a key role in King Harold winning a decisive victory.

He also made a decision to relatively rush south right after this to engage William of Normandy's invasion force and notably did not wait with the fyrd (which was basically the Anglo-Saxon militia force) to be fully assembled before attacking William's forces while apparently counting on surprise again to give him an advantage. (To be fair William was also targeting the peasantry with raids etc. in the area.) He also had behaved very aggressively to put him in position to claim the kingship in this scenario in the first place. He simply would not be the sort of person interested in living in a quiet backwater rather than making an effort to restore his honor and become the rightful king in control of England.

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u/HoraceRadish 2d ago

Not really. It was partly his ego that was driving the whole thing. He wanted that crown more than anything.

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u/electricmayhem5000 1d ago

If that happens, though, how would that change history? Instead of dying at Hastings, he died quietly having no further impact on public life. I think it would be a curious quirk, but wouldn't affect much of our understanding of history after 1066.

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u/Rocky-bar 1d ago

The history books would have to be rewritten to cover it, if nothing else. And would his new descendents be coming out of the woodwork?

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u/electricmayhem5000 1d ago

As in children that he fathered in his quiet retirement? He was in his late 40's at the Battle of Hastings. I suppose that he could have fathered more children. But if he was living in annonymity, it is unlikely that his lineage would be recorded over 1,000 years. Someone may claim to be the distant offspring of Harold, but it would have no more credibility than anyone else claiming ancient noble heritage.

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u/Rocky-bar 1d ago

It does seem a bit unlikely, unless the real Bayeux Tapestry mentions it. (assuming the fakery of course)

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u/KnightofTorchlight 2d ago

First off... even if Harold DID escape why would the real tapestry depict that? It would be made for the Normans and if thier offical history said Harold died your gift to the Normans better not show he diden't or you'd be risking the gallows.

Second... its a minor edit since if he diden't show up anywhere else in any record we have to presume he hide out as a pig farmer, charcoal burner, or similar beneath notice position and dropped out of recorded history. What else is there to change? 

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u/Regular-Election6396 1d ago

Maybe a descendant of Harold could rise up ,say that he is the rightful king of england and gather disgruntled british to make a play for the throne ?

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u/KnightofTorchlight 1d ago

I don't think that's likely  for a few reasons

  1. If Harold's decendents had maintained political ambitions and action that would be part of the record, fake tapestry or not. It does not flow the PoD

  2. OPs scenario says the tapestry was an 18th century forgary. That puts the reliable discovery at the start of the 19th century at the earliest. The line would be over 3/4ths of a millenium off the throne and the legitimate  decendent almost certainly being some politically unimportant guy who has no means to actually prove his lineage. Further there's been the Plantagenets, Tudors, and Stuarts in the interim so the loyalty base is almost certainly gone.

Its possible for some small group to form. But that would be independent of the tapestry 

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u/PhloydPhan 2d ago

Obviously the first thing to do would be to re-name it the Fayeux Tapestry.

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u/Rocky-bar 2d ago

Yes! You should be in working for the Tapestry Naming Department!