June 14th 1381: Peasants’ Revolt in London
On this day in 1381, King Richard II of England met with rebelling peasants, who had recently brought their revolt to London. The Peasants’ Revolt began at the end of May 1381, when a tax collector attempted to collect a poll tax in Brentwood, Essex. This was the final straw which turned peasant disaffection with the government, and the system of serfdom, into open rebellion. Tensions had been building since the Black Death, which particularly hurt poorer communities, while the Hundred Years’ War with France saw increased taxes. Violence spread across south-east England, as rebels sacked government buildings, demanding a fairer distribution of wealth. A group of rebels, led by Wat Tyler, marched on London, entering the capital on June 13th. They attacked gaols, government buildings, and the homes of government ministers; the 14-year-old King Richard II was forced to retreat into the Tower of London. On June 14th, the young king met the rebels at Mile End and accepted most of their demands, including the abolition of serfdom, asking they leave in peace. That same day, however, the remaining rebels entered the Tower of London and killed the Lord Chancelor and Lord High Treasurer. The next day, the king and his men again met with Tyler’s forces, but this time it ended in violence when the Mayor of London killed Tyler. The royal forces surrounded the rebels, but the situation was defused as the king promised pardons and to meet their demands; the rebels promptly returned home. However, in the coming months, participants in the revolt were executed, and the king reneged on his promises. While the Peasants’ Revolt ultimately failed, it remains a remarkable incident of uprising against the ruling classes in medieval England.
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