Hair from Bayeux
Since the Bayeux Tapestry (which, being stitched rather than woven, is an embroidery rather than a tapestry) is in the news I thought I’d share some important information about the insight this article gives us into 11th century hairstyles.
As you know the Bayeux Tapestry Embroidery concerns the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings between the Saxons (who originated in what is now a part of Germany) led by Harold Godwinson (who had relatives from Denmark and Sweden) and the Normans (who lived at the time in what is now France, but who came originally from Scandinavia).
Most chronicles of this episode leave out the important matter of the hair of the protagonists, and I feel that it is important to correct this imbalance here.
Throughout the Bayeux Untapestry, the Saxons are shown with splendid handlebar moustaches, exemplified by Harold Godwinson himself:
This style of facial hair was obviously de rigueur among Saxons. The Normans on the other hand appeared to be clean-shaven, not only on their front of their heads but also on the back:
This style of coiffure looks like it must have been somewhat difficult to maintain, but during the Battle of Hastings would mostly have been hidden under helmets.
With a decisive advantage in facial hair one wonders how the Saxons managed to lose the battle, but I can’t help thinking the outcome would have been different had they had proper beards.
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In the Dark 
January 18, 2018 at 6:28 pm
If the Danes under Harald Hadrada had beards, it would suggest that upkeep of facial hair distracted the wearer from practicing their combat.
January 18, 2018 at 6:43 pm
I think they had the same lack of facial hair as the Normans. Near-contemporary images of Harold Hadrada show him clean-shaven.
January 18, 2018 at 7:50 pm
This is correct. In genetic studies of burials in the “most” Scandinavian Normandy villages, the proportion of Scandinavian has been found to be rather small .
January 19, 2018 at 9:34 am
The number of Normans who actually came to England after the conquest was also small, but their military strength allowed them to subjugate the much larger local population of Saxons.