Portrait of Richard II of England. Circa 1390s. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Westminster_Portrait_of_Richard_II_of_England_(1390s).jpg
In the wake of the Black Death, England suffered catastrophic population loss. As a result, demand for peasant labor increased dramatically and landlords were forced to pay them much higher wages to ensure they had enough workers. In response to this and to fund a war with France, the parliament passed a law limiting wage increases and began several rounds of poll taxes. These were taxes paid by every adult of the kingdom. They were widely resented because the poor paid as much as the rich, though it impacted them far more severely. When commoners did not have the money to pay, they were forced to pay in seeds or other precious commodities. After the 3rd poll tax in 4 years, resistance began to escalate from avoidance to outright violence against the tax collectors. Some historians argue that the English elite named this movement the Peasants’ Revolt to disparage what was actually a popular rebellion among the common people, including many tradesmen, clergy, and small merchants.
These events occurred spontaneously in several locales and snowballed into an army that marched into London intent on removing Simon Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury and John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster and the king’s uncle, by force. It was widely believed by the commoners that these powerful advisors to the teenage king were corrupt and responsible for the policies they found so onerous.
It is estimated that approximately 60,000 people took part in this uprising. On their march towards London, they destroyed buildings that housed government records and attacked numerous tax agents, fatally in some cases. In London, the rebels stormed and vandalized the Duke of Lancaster’s palace. Most of their aggression was aimed at wealthy priests and lawyers, but there was also indiscriminate looting in other parts of the city.
The 16 year old King and his council met with the rebellion’s leader, Wat Taylor at Mile End on June 14, 1381. Richard acceded to all the rebel’s demands; it would later become clear he had no intention of fulfilling his word. However, while this meeting was taking place, another division of the rebels stormed the Tower of London and murdered Simon Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury, England’s highest clerical post. They also killed Lord High Treasurer Robert Hales, the highest tax official in the land. They were both beheaded.
A subsequent meeting outside the city at Smithfield ended with Tyler being stabbed in the neck by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Walworth. He was taken to a hospital where he either died of his injury, or some say was fatally attacked a second time. The King made another false agreement with the rebels. Not long after they left London, many were hunted down and executed until the status quo was restored.
While the insurrection was put down, the poll tax was not reinstated, and many peasants and tradesmen continued to drive hard bargains with the employing classes for their labor.
Sources:
What’s in a Name? The Peasant's’ Revolt- History Hub
30th May 1831- History Pod
Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt- Historic UK
About the Peasants Revolt- People of 1381