The March on London and the King’s Response
The March on London and the King’s Response
Blog Article
In early June 1381, the rebel forces reached London, catching the city authorities off guard. They attacked symbols of royal and ecclesiastical power, including the Savoy Palace (home to the unpopular John of Gaunt), and executed several royal officials.
King Richard II met the rebels at Mile End and later at Smithfield, where he initially promised to accept their demands. Wat Tyler met the king at Smithfield on June 15, but during this meeting, Tyler was killed in a confrontation with royal officials.
Following Tyler’s death, the revolt quickly lost cohesion. Richard II skillfully promised reforms to pacify the rebels and then suppressed the uprising with force.
Aftermath and Significance
Although the immediate demands of the peasants were largely ignored or reversed, the revolt had a lasting impact on English society:
- Decline of Serfdom: The feudal system began to crumble more rapidly in the following decades. Serfdom gradually disappeared as peasants gained more freedom to move and negotiate wages.
- Change in Taxation: The poll tax was abandoned after the revolt, and the government became more cautious about taxing the lower classes.
- Social Awareness: The revolt exposed deep social inequalities and planted seeds of ideas about rights and justice that would influence later movements.
- Royal Authority: The revolt revealed the vulnerability of royal power but also reinforced the need for kings to balance authority with addressing common grievances.
Conclusion
The 1381 Peasants’ Revolt stands as a landmark moment in English history. Though ultimately suppressed, it symbolized the beginning of the end for medieval feudalism and highlighted the growing power of the common people. It was a bold assertion of human dignity and justice that resonates as an early chapter in the long struggle for social and political rights. shutdown123 Report this page