In the summer of 1381, London witnessed one of the most dramatic episodes in its history when thousands of peasants from Kent and Essex marched on the capital, demanding radical social changes and an end to unfair taxation. Known as the Peasants’ Revolt or Wat Tyler’s Rebellion, this uprising shook medieval London to its core and left an indelible mark on English history.
The roots of the revolt lay in the aftermath of the Black Death, which had devastated England’s population just a few decades earlier. With fewer workers available, peasants began demanding better wages and conditions. The government responded by introducing laws to keep wages low and restrict peasant movement. Then came the final straw – a series of poll taxes requiring everyone aged 15 and over to pay a flat rate, regardless of their wealth.
On June 13, 1381, the rebels, led by the charismatic Wat Tyler from Kent, arrived at London’s gates. What happened next would have made for quite the spectacle – instead of finding the gates barred, they discovered sympathetic Londoners had opened them wide. Many city residents, particularly those in the poorer areas, supported the rebels’ cause.
The rebels made quite an entrance into London, heading straight for some of the city’s most prominent landmarks. Their first target was the Savoy Palace, home of the deeply unpopular John of Gaunt (the king’s uncle). The magnificent building was burned to the ground, though interestingly, Tyler had forbidden any looting – this was about justice, not theft, he declared. The rebels even supposedly threw into the flames anyone caught trying to pocket valuables!
The young King Richard II, then just 14 years old, initially took refuge in the Tower of London. But on June 14, he agreed to meet the rebels at Mile End. This must have been quite a sight – the teenage king riding out to meet a massive crowd of armed peasants! During this meeting, Richard made several significant concessions, including the abolition of serfdom and unfair labor laws.
However, the drama reached its peak the following day at Smithfield. Wat Tyler met with the king for a second round of negotiations, but things quickly went wrong. Accounts differ about exactly what happened, but we know Tyler behaved rather boldly (some say rudely) toward the king. William Walworth, the Mayor of London, took exception to this and struck Tyler down. In the chaos that followed, the young King Richard showed remarkable courage, riding toward the rebel army and declaring, “I am your captain now!”
This moment proved crucial – the rebels, impressed by the king’s bravery and believing his promises of reform and pardons, began to disperse. However, once order was restored, the promises were revoked, and many rebel leaders were hunted down and executed. Wat Tyler’s head ended up displayed on London Bridge – a grim reminder of the price of rebellion.
Despite its bloody end, the Peasants’ Revolt left a lasting impact on London and England. While the immediate demands weren’t met, the revolt demonstrated the power of common people to organize and challenge authority. It marked the beginning of the end for serfdom in England, which gradually declined over the following century.
Today, you can still find echoes of the revolt in London. The Savoy Hotel stands where the palace was burned, and Smithfield remains a bustling area of the city. Tyler’s death is commemorated by a plaque in Smithfield, though it’s easy to miss among the modern buildings and meat markets.
The revolt also gave us some colorful characters and memorable moments that have become part of London’s folklore. There’s the story of the rebels who forced lawyers to wear mocking hats made of paper, and tales of prisoners being freed from Newgate Prison. One chronicler even recorded rebels playing skittles with precious spices from the burning Savoy Palace – perhaps not the most efficient way to strike a blow against the aristocracy!
The Peasants’ Revolt reminds us that London has always been a city where ordinary people have fought for their rights. While the medieval city would be unrecognizable to us today, the spirit of resistance and the desire for fair treatment that drove those peasants to march on London remains very much alive in the modern city.
Next time you’re walking through Smithfield or passing the Savoy, spare a thought for Wat Tyler and his rebels. Their dramatic uprising might have ended in failure, but it helped shape the London – and England – we know today.