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Despite being a very strong ruler, William
did not have it all his own way all through his reign. In 1069 Sven II of Denmark launched an invasion. William defeated the rebels and then destroyed much of the
countryside between Nottingham and York causing severe hardship to those who lived there. Not only were their homes burned to the ground but crops were also
destroyed and there was a widespread famine.
Also in this year William started to move into Wales and his barons and nobles began to build castles there. Most of the castles were the wooden motte
and bailey type but the Earl of Hereford built a stone castle at Chepstow about this time.
In 1072 William invaded Scotland and the King, Malcolm, agreed to become William’s vassal, which meant he could keep his lands but was under William’s
control; in theory but Scotland is a long way from London. Also, at this time, a Saxon rebellion in East Anglia, led by a guy called Hereward the Wake, surrendered
to William although what happened to Hereward no one seems to know.
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