The Harrying of the North, 1069-1070

What was the Harrying of the North?

'Harrying' means to devastate a place. In 1069, William decided to deal with uprisings in the north with an event that became known as 'The Harrying of the North'. Norman soldiers stormed villages, killing many people, burning fields, and destroying livestock and food stores.

When was the Harrying of the North?

The Harrying of the North began in the winter of 1069 and continued into 1070.

What was the importance of the Harrying of the North?

The Harrying of the North was important because it marked a turning point in William's strategy for dealing with rebellions. The consequences made it difficult to continue resistance against William.

Why did the Normans harry the north?

It is possible that William ordered the Harrying of the North in a fit of rage - there is evidence that he regretted it afterwards. However, at the time there were several other reasons for his decision.

• ❖ Many Normans, including the Norman earl Robert Cumin, had been killed by rebels.
• ❖ The guerrilla tactics of the rebels meant that William was unable to meet them in open battle. Instead, they took refuge in nearby villages. The Harrying of the North made this impossible.
• ❖ The Danish heritage of Anglo-Saxons in the north meant that their loyalty might be swayed by Danish invaders.
• ❖ The rebellions in the north triggered other rebellions across England.

What were the short-term effects of the Harrying of the North?

The effects of the Harrying of the North in the short-term were horrific. An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people were either killed, died of starvation in the resulting famine, or were displaced as refugees to other parts of the kingdom.

What were the long-term effects of the Harrying of the North?

The effects of the Harrying of the North lasted for many years.

• ❖ There were no further uprisings in Northumbria.
• ❖ 16 years later, the Domesday Book showed that one third of Yorkshire remained wasteland, and that there were as many as 150,000 fewer people in the area.
• ❖ The Danes no longer used the Danelaw as a beachhead for their invasions, and instead attacked in East Anglia.
• ❖ William decided to replace the remaining Anglo-Saxon nobility, rather than trying to work with them any more.
• ❖ The Harrying was widely criticised, including by the pope. William gave a lot of time and money to the Church as penance (to make amends) for his actions.

How many people were killed in the Harrying of the North?

It is unsure how many people were killed or died of starvation as a result of the Harrying of the North, but estimates range between 80,000 and 100,000 people.