The Harrying of the North Flashcards
(26 cards)
When was the Harrying of the North?
Winter of 1069-70
Who had fled north in 1068?
Edwin, Morcar and Edgar Aetheling
What did Edgar need in order to challenge William for his claim?
Military support
Who supported Edgar’s claim?
King Malcom of Scotland
Why did King Malcolm support Edgar?
He had recently married Edgar’s sister
Who was murdered by a group of English rebels?
The Norman Earl of Northern Northumbria- Robert of Commines
When was Robert of Commines murdered?
January 1069
Who’s house was set on fire in January 1069?
Bishop of Durham
Where did Edgar attack?
York city
Who invaded the north of England and joined Edgar’s army?
Danish Vikings with 240 ships
When did the Vikings invade to help Edgar?
Summer 1069
Who did the Vikings join?
Earls Edgar Aetheling and Waltheof
Who did the combined rebel army defeat?
A Norman army outside York and they captured York castle
How did William get rid of the Vikings?
Paid them to abandon the English army and return to Denmark
Leaders Edgar and Waltheof were scattered
Why did William need to teach the north a lesson?
Seek revenge for the death of Robert of Commines and send a message to the Saxons and Vikings that rebellions were not acceptable
What land did William cover?
From the Humber to the Tees River
What did William do to the north?
Deliberately laid waste to huge areas of land around York
Ordered the slaughter of all livestock, the burning of all crops and the salting of the land
What was the Harrying of the North?
William’s response to the Northern rebellions
What were the immediate consequences?
Farmers’ loss of income and starvation of peasants across the region
In the Domesday Book, was what % of Yorkshire was recorded as waste? (Meaning it’s was unpopulated and not used for farming)
80%
When was the Domesday Book written?
1086
What had William removed?
The threat of rebellion in the north once and for all- he faced little trouble from Yorkshire again during his reign
How many were killed?
100,000
What did the Harrying of the North not mark however?
The end of rebellions against William elsewhere in the country
