Despite these achievements, William’s rule was also marked by brutal repression. His campaign to subdue the north of England, known as the Harrying of the North (1069–1070), was particularly savage. William’s forces destroyed villages, crops, and livestock, leading to famine and the deaths of thousands of civilians. Contemporary chroniclers d

In September 1066, William assembled a large invasion force comprising Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French soldiers. On October 14, 1066, William’s army met Harold’s forces at the Battle of Hastings. The battle was brutal and decisive. Harold was killed, allegedly struck in the eye by an arrow, and his army was defeated. William emerged victori

William the Conqueror remains one of the most famous and controversial figures in medieval European history. His legacy is a complex tapestry woven from the threads of conquest, power, and cultural transformation. To some, William is a heroic figure who changed the course of English history forever; to others, he is a ruthless invader and oppressor

Between 1069 and 1070, William launched what would become known as the Harrying of the North—a scorched earth campaign aimed at crushing northern resistance, especially in Yorkshire and Durham. Context of Rebellion: Following the conquest, northern England remained unstable. Local leaders, including Anglo-Saxon nobles and Viking descendants,