The Peasants' Revolt: England's Summer of Rage

In June 1381, a coalition of rural labourers and London artisans marched on the capital, demanding an end to serfdom and the poll tax. This episode traces the journey of Wat Tyler, John Ball, and the young King Richard II as they navigated one of medieval Europe’s most dangerous uprisings. We explore how the aftermath of the Black Death empowered the common man, why the Statute of Laborers failed to contain wages, and what happened inside Smithfield when the king met his rebels face-to-face. Through letters, court rolls, and chronicles by Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton, we uncover the political machinery that crushed the revolt while inadvertently shifting the course of English social history. #PeasantsRevolt #WatTyler #JohnBall #RichardII #PollTax #StatuteOfLaborers #BlackDeath #MedievalEngland #Smithfield #SimonBaker #ThomasWalsingham #HenryKnighton #Serfdom #LondonHistory #1381 #EnglishHistory #FexingoHistory #History #SocialUnrest Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo