How was William the Conqueror ruthless?

Answer 1

Who says he was? William was not popular with the Saxon people he had conquered, but what conquerer is? William brought considerable order and structure to England and stopped the Viking raids which had been plaguing the country for centuries. So, you could argue that he brought peace rather than brutality to the country. I have no record of him being any more brutal than any monarch of that age. Conquest is a brutal businesses. William's reputation for brutality stemmed from his response to uprisings in England after the conquest, where he laid whole sections of England to waste. Overall, William was not noted for brutality, at least not any more than other kings of the age. More than anything, William was calculating and a pragmatist. This type of response was the most practical and efficient way to bring England under his control. He had to gain respect and control. This was the only way he could think of doing it.