Which of the following was a reason for the Harrying of the North?

• A. To take revenge for the death of Earl Robert Cumin.
• B. To expand Danish influence in England.
• C. To deflect attention from rebellions by focusing on the north.
• D. To pacify the Danelaw completely.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that the Harrying of the North was a brutal punitive campaign intended to crush rebellion and establish Norman control in the north. The strongest reason is that it was carried out as revenge for the death of an important Norman leader, Earl Robert Cumin, who was killed during the northern uprising. William saw Cumin’s death as a direct challenge to his authority and answered with a scorched-earth approach that devastated farms, villages, and livelihoods across the region. The goal wasn’t to gain Danish influence or to maneuver around other rebellions by concentrating on the north; it was to deter future resistance and force submission by making the north unproductive and dangerous to oppose. It also did not instantly pacify the Danelaw completely; the action was severe and punitive, but the area remained under Norman control rather than being fully reconciled in a single effort.