Key topic 2: William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066–87 - 3 The…

The idea

The Harrying of the North (1069–70) was William's brutal response to repeated northern rebellions and the threat of Danish invasion. To prevent future uprisings and deny resources to enemies, William ordered the systematic destruction of the region. Features included burning crops, slaughtering livestock, and destroying villages across Yorkshire. The immediate impact was a catastrophic famine; chroniclers reported people resorting to cannibalism, with an estimated 100,000 deaths. The long-term impact (to 1087) was profound: the Domesday Book (1086) recorded vast tracts of Yorkshire as 'waste', land values plummeted, and the northern Anglo-Saxon nobility was entirely replaced by loyal Norman lords, permanently securing the region.

What earns the marks

• Explain the reasons for the Harrying, focusing on the need to crush northern resistance and remove resources that could support a Danish invasion.
• Describe the features of the Harrying, such as the deliberate destruction of crops, seed, livestock, and housing.
• Detail the immediate impact, including widespread starvation, death (estimated 100,000), and refugees fleeing the region.
• Analyse the long-term impact up to 1087, noting the economic devastation recorded in the Domesday Book as 'waste' and the complete Norman takeover of northern lands.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the Harrying of the North with a standard military battle.

  Put it right: It was a scorched-earth campaign targeting the civilian population and agricultural resources, not a battle against an army.

• Stating that the North recovered quickly.

  Put it right: The Domesday Book shows that even 16 years later, much of the region was still economically ruined and classified as 'waste'.

• Believing the Harrying only affected soldiers.

  Put it right: The primary victims were ordinary peasants who starved to death due to the destruction of their food supplies.

Exam tips

• Use the term 'scorched-earth policy' to accurately describe the features of the Harrying of the North.
• Reference the Domesday Book's classification of land as 'waste' as concrete evidence of the long-term economic impact.
• Connect the Harrying to the broader theme of William changing his tactics from trying to integrate the English nobility to completely destroying them.