During the Medieval Times, there were a few revolts but the Peasants' Revolt was the most serious one. It took place in June 1381 in England.
From Kent and Essex, an army of peasants marched to London and unexpectedly seized the Tower of London. This left the Archbishop of Canterbury and the King’s Treasurer dead. Richard II was the king at the time and he was only 14-years-old. He arranged to meet the peasants at a place called Mile End.
There were many reasons why the peasants were angry including that after the Black Death, there weren’t many people left to work on the manor’s land. So the lords would pay the peasants to keep working but even after 35 years, they feared that the landlords would go back on their deal and the peasants were ready to fight for the privileges.
Also, there had been a long war with France and since wars cost a lot of money, the taxes that the peasants had to pay were increased. This left lots of peasants without much money and they weren’t very happy at all.
In May 1381, a tax collector came to get the money off the local villagers who hadn’t paid but they weren’t going to and ended up burning down government buildings.
From Kent and Essex, an army of peasants marched to London and unexpectedly seized the Tower of London. This left the Archbishop of Canterbury and the King’s Treasurer dead. Richard II was the king at the time and he was only 14-years-old. He arranged to meet the peasants at a place called Mile End.
There were many reasons why the peasants were angry including that after the Black Death, there weren’t many people left to work on the manor’s land. So the lords would pay the peasants to keep working but even after 35 years, they feared that the landlords would go back on their deal and the peasants were ready to fight for the privileges.
Also, there had been a long war with France and since wars cost a lot of money, the taxes that the peasants had to pay were increased. This left lots of peasants without much money and they weren’t very happy at all.
In May 1381, a tax collector came to get the money off the local villagers who hadn’t paid but they weren’t going to and ended up burning down government buildings.
June 14th, the rebels met the king at Mile End. At this gathering, Richard II gave them what they wanted in return for them to go home in peace after they tried leaving and began drinking heavily.
June 15th, the King met the rebels at Smithfield, which was outside the walls of the city. The Lord Mayor wanted to get rid of the rebels and during this meeting, he killed Wat Tyler who was the leader of the peasant army. With the death of Tyler and another promise from the king, the peasants decided that it was enough to send themselves home.
By the end of 1381, the Peasant’s Revolt had ended. King Richard II did not keep his promises because he claimed that they ‘didn’t count’ because he was under threat. Leaders of Kent and Essex were hung. The peasants were forced back into their old way of life, under the orders of the lords.
But after the Black Death many peasants died. This meant that they ended up paying other peasant’s to stay and work on their land. Over the next 100 years peasants realised that they could get more out of the lords and they had to give in to their requests because they needed their property to be looked after.
June 15th, the King met the rebels at Smithfield, which was outside the walls of the city. The Lord Mayor wanted to get rid of the rebels and during this meeting, he killed Wat Tyler who was the leader of the peasant army. With the death of Tyler and another promise from the king, the peasants decided that it was enough to send themselves home.
By the end of 1381, the Peasant’s Revolt had ended. King Richard II did not keep his promises because he claimed that they ‘didn’t count’ because he was under threat. Leaders of Kent and Essex were hung. The peasants were forced back into their old way of life, under the orders of the lords.
But after the Black Death many peasants died. This meant that they ended up paying other peasant’s to stay and work on their land. Over the next 100 years peasants realised that they could get more out of the lords and they had to give in to their requests because they needed their property to be looked after.
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