Wat Tyler Rebellion

Wat Tyler Rebellion


This is one of my favorite pieces of history, the Wat Tyler Rebellion. This rebellion is also known as the Peasants Revolt. I assure you, the name has been earned.

The Black Death (a subject I am intensely interested in) had ravaged Europe and left only a few survivors. This situation created an unique issue that built up to the rebellion.

Allow me to back-track a little to provide more clarity. During that time, in the late 1300s, there were Bishops, nobles and peasants. This is better known as Feudalism. The government of the time required taxes to be paid. This is nothing new.

Now back to the Black Death. The Black Death streak killed about 60% of the entire population of Europe. Let that number sit in your head. 60%. Out of 10 people, 6 died. Out of 100, 60 died. Out of 1000, 600 died. This is a devastating loss for the government of the time.

WHO WILL DO THE DIRTY WORK?! There's barely anybody left! Even if nearly 100 years had passed from the latest Black Death outbreak.

The workers now demanded wage increase because they realized their value had gained due to the plague. Simple economics of supply and demand. Nobody was expendable.

"If you want me to work, pay me more and improve my work conditions!"

The government made a catastrophic mistake of passing laws to restrict wage increases. This mistake was compounded by the fact that they passed another measure called a poll tax. At this point, taxes were increased 3 times (with the passage of poll tax) in 4 years!

So, to recap so far... No wage increases. 3rd tax increase in 4 years. Check. This gets even more crazy.

May 1381, the tax man comes to a village named Fobbing to collect taxes. This is where it all started to explode!

"GET OUT!!"

The King was told about this and sent soldiers. They got the same answer from the peasants. 60,000 soldiers, tradesmen, and peasants all got together and marched towards London. Walter the Tyler (Wat Tyler) from Kent began to be recognized as the leader of this rebellion.

In London, they "destroyed tax records and registers, and removed the heads from several tax officials who objected to them doing so. Buildings which housed government records were burned down."

People were cuttin' heads off!

This rebellion lasted a few weeks. It was a huge success because it caused the poll tax to be removed and wages climbed up and up because there was a severe shortage of laborers.

This was also another cause that weakened the monarchy significantly. You give 'em an inch, they take a mile... or so they say :)

Until next time on Small Samples of History,
Ryan