Option B1: Key topic 2: William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066–87 - 3 The legacy of resistance to 1087 — Edexcel GCSE History
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Option B1: Key topic 2: William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066–87 - 3 The legacy of resistance to 1087 explained
The Harrying of the North (1069–70) was William's brutal response to repeated northern rebellions and the threat of Danish invasion.
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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.
Changes in landownership from Anglo-Saxon to Norman, 1066–87.
Between 1066 and 1087, landownership in England underwent a radical transformation from Anglo-Saxon to Norman control. Following the Battle of Hastings, William I claimed all English land, initially allowing some Anglo-Saxons to buy back their estates. However, widespread rebellions led to massive confiscations. By 1087, the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy was almost entirely replaced; only a tiny fraction of land remained in English hands. William redistributed this land to his loyal Norman followers, creating a new elite of tenants-in-chief. This shift consolidated Norman power, as land was now held directly from the king in exchange for military service, fundamentally altering the social and political landscape of England.
Your focus
- Explain why William I decided to carry out the Harrying of the North in 1069.
- Describe the specific actions taken by Norman soldiers during the Harrying.
- Assess the immediate human cost and the long-term economic and political impacts of the Harrying up to 1087.
Show all 6 objectives
- Describe the process by which land was transferred from Anglo-Saxons to Normans between 1066 and 1087.
- Explain the reasons why William I confiscated land from the Anglo-Saxon nobility.
- Evaluate the impact of these landownership changes on the control and security of the kingdom.
Option B1: Key topic 2: William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066–87 - 3 The legacy of resistance to 1087 exam tips
Marking Points
- 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.
- Explain that William I claimed ownership of all land in England by right of conquest.
- Describe how Anglo-Saxon earls initially retained some land but lost it following rebellions (e.g., Edwin and Morcar).
- Detail the redistribution of confiscated land to Norman barons and loyal supporters as a reward and control mechanism.
- Analyse the dramatic reduction in Anglo-Saxon landownership by 1087, noting that almost all major landowners were Norman.
Examiner 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.
- 💡Use specific statistics or examples, such as the Domesday Book revealing that only a tiny percentage of land was held by Anglo-Saxons in 1086.
- 💡Link changes in landownership directly to William's need to secure the kingdom against resistance.
- 💡When evaluating the impact of the Norman Conquest, highlight landownership as the most significant change for the English elite.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the Harrying of the North with a standard military battle; correction: 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; correction: 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; correction: the primary victims were ordinary peasants who starved to death due to the destruction of their food supplies.
- Stating that William confiscated all Anglo-Saxon land immediately in 1066; correct by explaining that confiscations happened gradually, mostly after rebellions.
- Believing that Anglo-Saxon peasants lost their land; correct by clarifying that the changes primarily affected the aristocracy and major landowners, not the peasantry.
- Confusing the Anglo-Saxon system with the Norman feudal system; correct by emphasising that under William, all land was ultimately owned by the Crown.