The spoils of war

The Catalans are famous for their national celebration of the worst defeat in the country's history. Yet, there was something so momentous about the fall of Barcelona in September 1714 that to allow it to just drift off into the historical ether doesn't seem right. In a perverse yet very effective sense, the loss of freedoms that were essential for the functioning of an independent entity, such as Catalonia, just served to strengthen the common determination to get them back. In this example of national expression the Catalans are unique. Aren't they?

Not exactly. The English, too, are a nation that refuses to forget a momentous historical loss. 1066. Everyone knows this date in England, even people not sure what happened that year in which the English were utterly conquered by a foreign power. Which is just one of the reasons why some people still remember back 950 years; for them it was the last time that English freedoms would be taken away by foreigners. Brexit, anyone?

But, 1066 is remembered for many reasons, even if it is just because a 1930s humorous book used the date for its title and succeeded in fusing it into the modern common cultural consciousness. Whatever the reason, it deserves to be remembered, for it changed the country and its culture, forever. The very language I am writing this column in is a direct consequence of Duke William of Normandy's bold conquest of Anglo-Saxon England.

Another consequence of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is a unique work of art that sits at the heart of this story of national disaster and conquest: the Bayeux Tapestry. This 70-metre long hand-stitched embroidery provides one version of the story of William's victory and, bearing in mind that the victor gets to rewrite history, the story it tells is far from a straightforward celebration of the Duke and his achievement. In other words, questions still hang over the art work, and it remains a key subject of academic study. As you can see from the article on pages 42 and 43, a Catalan academic has entered the fray, writing a book that provides a hypothesis that sheds light on the origins and purpose of the Tapestry. What's more, Montserrat Pagès's book comes with an English translation at the back, making it accessible in a way that would be great to see in more Catalan publications.

I encourage you to check out the article if you haven't already, it is a great starting point for further exploration of this event nearly a thousand years ago and for piquing interest in one of the world's great historical treasures.