The Harrying of the North: William’s Scorched‑Earth Campaign

After Hastings, William’s northern campaign in 1069–70 is often pictured as an indiscriminate massacre, yet contemporary chronicles and later historians differ on its scale and motive. In this episode we unpack the evidence for the scorched‑earth tactics, explore debates over the true extent of devastation, and assess how the campaign reshaped Anglo‑Saxon society and paved the way for Norman rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices