The Peasants' Revolt
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- Created on: 24-06-21 10:01
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- The Peasants' Revolt
- Main Events
- In May 1381, a tax collector went to an Essex village, Fobbing, to ask why they hadn't paid their Poll Tax. The villagers kicked him out.
- Also in May 1381, some peasants seized a castle in Kent. They made Wat Tyler their leader and he would become head of the revolt.
- Soldiers were sent to Fobbing in June 1381. The peasants responded by organising themselves into armed groups which were supported by other Essex villages. This started an armed rebellion that spread to Kent.
- On 11th June, Kentish peasants marched on Blackheath, just 5 miles from London. At the same time, the Essex peasants marched to Mile End, also just a few miles from London. Between 50,000 and 60,000 peasants were involved.
- On 12th June Richard tried to speak to the peasants but he failed to deter them. The next day the rebels entered London and attacked the homes of the King's advisers.
- On June 14th, Richard II met with the Essex rebels at Mile End. He promised to free any rebels from prison, pardon them and punish his advisers. The Bishop of London, the Royal Treasurer and the organiser of the Poll Tax, John Legge, were murdered.
- June 15th Wat Tyler met with Richard II. Tyler wanted his men freed and the Church's wealth to be given to the poor. Tyler was killed by the mayor of London after an argument.
- Richard II agreed to the rebels demands and they returned home thinking they were victorious. However, Richard II broke all of his promises apart from ending the Poll Tax.
- Why did it fail?
- The rebels lacked discipline and organisation.
- Most of the peasants believed Richard II would keep his promises and so returned home.
- Many rebel leaders were hanged.
- In Essex and Kent 1500 rebels were killed by 8000 Royal troops sent in to restore order.
- The King claimed that as his promises were made under threat they did not count.
- The rebellion was only based in Essex and Kent and did not spread further across England.
- What changes did it cause?
- The Poll Tax was withdrawn. It was later reintroduced in the 1980s which sparked riots in London in 1990.
- Lords were eventually forced to pay peasants a wage due to labour shortages following the Black Death.
- Peasants' living standards rose after the Hundred Years War.
- The feudal system began to collapse.
- Richard II won admiration for showing his great calm during the revolt.
- Richard's use of Parliament to raise money saved his rule for a short while
- In 1399, Richard II was murdered and replaced by Henry IV
- By 1500, there were no longer any villeins. All Englishmen were freemen and benefitted from the rights of the Magna Carta.
- Main Events
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