Key facts and dates

The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was a major uprising in England triggered by social changes after the Black Death, economic pressures, and high taxes. It highlighted tensions between peasants and the ruling classes, ultimately failing but leading to the abandonment of the Poll Tax.

Timeline of key events

• 1348–1349 – Black Death kills many, causing worker shortages and social changes.
• 1377 – First Poll Tax introduced to fund war with France.
• 1379 – Second Poll Tax demands more money, increasing anger.
• June 1381 – Revolt begins in Essex and Kent, led by Wat Tyler; rebels march on London.
• 14 June 1381 – King Richard II meets rebels; Savoy Palace burned, Archbishop killed.
• 15 June 1381 – Second meeting; Wat Tyler stabbed and killed.
• July 1381 – Revolt ends; rebel leaders hanged, promises ignored.

Social changes after the Black Death

The Black Death, a devastating plague that struck England in 1348–1349, killed a large portion of the population. This led to significant shifts in society, as fewer people meant more opportunities for survivors but also challenges for the ruling classes who relied on traditional systems of control.

Impact on the feudal system

• Collapse of feudalism - The old feudal system, where peasants were bound to lords and paid dues in labour or goods, began breaking down. It was increasingly replaced by money-rent systems, where peasants paid cash instead.
• Worker shortages - With so many dead from the plague, there was a high demand for peasant labour. This gave survivors more bargaining power and better wages.
• New privileges for peasants - Peasants gained freedoms, such as the ability to leave their villages to seek better work elsewhere, which weakened the lords' control and caused resentment among the upper classes.

Grievances against the Church and rising taxes

Peasants and even some landowners grew increasingly unhappy with the Church's wealth and demands. At the same time, new taxes imposed by the government to fund wars added to widespread anger, setting the stage for rebellion.

Issues with the Church

• Forced unpaid labour - Some peasants had to work for the Church without pay, as it was seen as doing 'God's work'. This was resented as exploitative.
• Tithes - Everyone, including peasants and landowners, had to pay tithes (religious taxes) to the Church, amounting to one tenth of their produce or earnings.
• Wealth inequality - Bishops and Church leaders were extremely rich, while ordinary people struggled with taxes and poverty, leading to criticism of the Church's greed.

Anger over Poll Taxes

• Introduction of taxes - John of Gaunt, uncle to the young King Richard II and effective ruler, introduced Poll Taxes to finance wars with France. These were flat-rate taxes where everyone paid the same amount, regardless of wealth.
• First Poll Tax (1377) - Everyone over 14 paid 4 pence, which was a significant burden for the poor.
• Second Poll Tax (1379) - This demanded even more money, heightening frustration.
• Third Poll Tax (1381) - Set at 12 pence per person, this was the final trigger; people evaded it by hiding or fighting tax collectors, sparking the revolt.

Key events and leaders of the revolt

The Peasants' Revolt began in June 1381 in Essex and Kent, quickly spreading to other areas like Suffolk, Hertfordshire, and Norfolk. It was driven by armed villagers who targeted symbols of authority, led by figures like Wat Tyler.

Start and spread of the uprising

• Beginning in Brentwood - Villagers in Essex refused to pay a tax collector, leading to unrest that spread to nearby areas. Rebels attacked manors (lords' estates) and religious houses.
• March on London - Rebels from Kent and Essex, joined by some of London's poor, advanced on the capital to demand reforms.
• Leadership and demands - Wat Tyler emerged as a key leader, giving speeches like the one at Blackheath on 13 June 1381, where he argued for equality among all men except the king, rejecting lordship over peasants.

Main events of the rebellion

The king's response and the revolt's outcomes

King Richard II, only 14 at the time, played a central role in ending the revolt through a mix of promises and force. While the uprising achieved some short-term concessions, it ultimately failed to bring lasting change.

How the revolt was suppressed

• Initial meetings - Richard met the rebels twice, promising to meet their demands, such as ending serfdom and reducing taxes, which convinced many to disperse.
• Betrayal and executions - Once most peasants returned home, the king reneged on his promises. Rebel leaders were hunted down; Wat Tyler was beheaded, and others were hanged.
• Key actions against rebels - The Archbishop of Canterbury was killed by rebels, and John of Gaunt's Savoy Palace was burned, but these acts were used to justify harsh reprisals.

Long-term consequences

• Abandonment of the Poll Tax - The hated tax was dropped due to the revolt, easing some financial burdens.
• Return to control - Peasants were forced back under lords' authority, with no real gains in equality or freedoms.
• Historical significance - The revolt showed the growing power of peasants after the Black Death but also the strength of the monarchy in crushing dissent, influencing future social tensions in England.