Key learning points

1. William’s control of the North was threatened by rebellions.
2. William aimed to destroy the spirit of rebellion and ensure that no future rebellion could support itself in the North.
3. Norman soldiers systematically killed rebels and destroyed food across Yorkshire – later known as ‘Harrying the North’.
4. The resulting famine caused as many as 100 000 people to vanish from the records.
5. There were no further uprisings in the North, but William was criticised for excessive brutality.

Keywords

• Systematically - when something is done systematically it is done in a way that is done according to an agreed set of methods or organised plan

• Scorched-earth - a scorched-earth policy is the act of an army destroying everything in an area such as food, buildings, or equipment that could be useful to an enemy

• Famine - a famine is a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens

• Refugee - a refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster

Common misconception