Following his victory at Hastings, William embarked on a campaign of consolidation and control. He had to subdue the native Anglo-Saxon nobility, many of whom resisted the foreign invader. The years following the conquest were marked by brutal repression, land confiscations, and the establishment of a new social order in England. The Anglo-Saxon elite was replaced by Normans, who were granted vast estates across the country.

One of William’s most notable achievements was the commissioning of the Domesday Book in 1085, a comprehensive survey of England’s lands, resources, and population. This work was crucial in establishing control over the kingdom, as it provided a detailed record of landholdings and taxes. The Domesday Book is still one of the most valuable historical documents from the medieval period.

William’s rule also had lasting impacts on England’s legal and administrative systems. He introduced feudalism to England, centralizing power and creating a hierarchical system of landholding. Under this system, the king was the ultimate landowner, and vassals were granted lands in exchange for military service and loyalty. This structure would shape English society for centuries.

The Villainous Side: Ruthlessness and Repression

Despite his many achievements, William’s reign was also marked by acts of extreme violence and repression. The most notorious of these was his response to the rebellions in northern England, particularly the Harrying of the North in 1069-1070. Following a series of uprisings by the Anglo-Saxon population, William ordered the complete destruction of villages and crops in northern England. The land was scorched, and thousands of men, women, and children were killed or left to starve. The Harrying of the North is remembered as one of the most brutal acts of medieval warfare, and it left a lasting scar on the English psyche.

William’s treatment of the Anglo-Saxon nobility was also harsh. Many of the native lords were dispossessed of their lands and either killed or exiled. The Normans who replaced them were loyal to William, but this alienated much of the Anglo-Saxon population, who saw their traditional way of life being uprooted and replaced with foreign rulers.

In addition to his military brutality, William's reign was characterized by a strict enforcement of Norman law and culture. The Anglo-Saxon elite was forced to adopt the French language, and Norman customs and institutions were imposed upon the English people. This cultural imposition created a deep divide between the ruling Normans and the subject Anglo-Saxons, who viewed their conquerors with resentment. shutdown123