THE DEATH OF KING HAROLD

An engraving for Cassell's "History of England", 1875.

At least we are sure that one of the kings is getting his death wound. But if this is supposed to be Harold Godwinson and not Harald Sigurdson, then even in recent times there is some confusion as to who was struck in the throat.

Apropos of anachronisms in modern art: this is an example of nineteenth century illustration wherein three centuries of weaponry commingle: note the 13th century "brown bills", the late 12th century flat-topped long shield, the brigandine over ring mail on the Norman side (a late 12th to early 13th century innovation), while the "rustic" English are armed in very short scale shirts typical of the 10th century or even earlier. Yet for all this the nineteenth century artists were far ahead of medieval ones in accurately depicting the arms and armor of a given period not their own.