Harrying of the North

• The sources describe the brutality of William's operations in the north
• The effects on the north were very long lasting, with some historians arguing that there are divides up there to this day because of the slaughter
• English Monk: 'People were so hungry that they ate human flesh as well as horses, cats and dogs. It was horrific to see human corpses decaying in the houses and roads and there was a terrible smell because there was no one alive to bury them. For nine years no one lived in the villages between York and Durham.'
• By modern standards and by any standards, these are war crimes and brutal actions
• William was prepared to be incredibly violent and brutal if it maintained his control
• The building of castles was an act of oppression, often built by local people who were forced to construct them
• Property was destroyed, homes and crops were burnt, livestock was killed, and salt plowed into the land to prevent a successful harvest for years to come
• This caused widespread famine, and soldiers killed and terrified the guilty and the innocent alike
• The intimidation discouraged future rebellions, and the fear, destruction, and devastating famine resulted in huge numbers of refugees, with as many as 100,000 people dying
• The Domesday Book entry for Pickering in North Yorkshire, and other manors, shows that the area still hadn't recovered 15 years after the events, with the phrase "sita" meaning "it is waste"
• William had shot himself in the foot, as by destroying the north so comprehensively, he was preventing rebellions but also reducing his tax coffers for the rest of his reign and for many generations to come
• Social impacts of the Harrying of the North

  • Distress suffered by the population
  • Derelict nature of many northern settlements
  • Number of deaths, both executed and from famine
  • Farms, land, and villages left deserted as people left or died
  • Refugee situation, with many people having to move
• Political impacts of the Harrying of the North

  • Breaking the will of the English to resist against William, with no significant rebellions for the rest of his reign
  • Securing William's power and control
• As a result of the rebellions in the north, William took brutal revenge, leading to the destruction of lives and property, a flood of refugees, and deadly mass starvation
• Areas of the north were devastated, with some taking decades to recover and others never recovering, remaining deserted to this day
• William achieved his aim, as the north never rebelled again in any significant way