A peasant revolt is a peasant revolt is a peasant revolt...

Lord Mayor of London, William Walworth, striking rebel Wat Tyler

Once upon a time, London had Lord William Walworth as Mayor. Now there is Sadiq Khan…

13 - 15 June 1381: Wat Tyler brings the Peasants’ Revolt to London, marching into the city at the lead of his peasant army, burning and looting as they went. In true irreverent peasant style, government building were destroyed, prisoners released (Bastille much?), a judge and other prominent Londoners beheaded.

They say each hardship is a blessing in disguise, and the Black Death was so to the surviving peasants. With nearly one third of the English people dead from the illness, the remaining labour force was scarce, thus much more expensive. The inevitable social changes did not sit too well with the traditional feudal system though, which needed the natural course of events to adapt to an emancipated peasantry. In true irreverent peasant style though, the protesters had no time for that, starting the revolt in late May.

In Kent, they chose Wat Tyler – a far less refined prototype of the ugliness that was Robespierre – and he led a growing peasant army toward London, all the way capturing the towns of Maidstone, Rochester and Canterbury. In London, he was denied a meeting with then 14-year-old King Richard II, to which he answered in true irreverent peasant style by burning and plundering the city. The King did meet with other peasant leaders the next day and agreed to abolish serfdom and restrictions on the marketplace.

Nevertheless, fights continued, with Tyler leading his peasant army in an attack against the Tower of London. He captured the fortress and – in true irreverent peasant style – also executed the Archbishop of Canterbury. I told you he was an unrefined prototype of the ugliness that was Robespierre.

Finally, the King and his men – among whom the Lord Mayor of London, William Walworth – met Tyler who, among other things, demanded the abolition of church property. Again, I told you he was an unrefined prototype of the ugliness that was Robespierre.

The English state back then was a force to be reckoned with – even the local power. Disgusted by Tyler’s true irreverent peasant-style arrogance in the presence of the King, London Mayor Walworth’s lunged on the punk, smashing his sword across his neck and head. Then John Cavendish, a servant of the King, stabbed Tyler again. He was nevertheless able to ride a good distance before falling from his horse.

In the tumult, Tyler was sent to a hospital for the poor, but Mayor Walworth was not done with him yet. He tracked Tyler down and brought him back to where they were meeting. There he beheaded him, and his head was placed on a pole and carried around the city, finally being put on display at the London Bridge.

At the end, the peasants’ revolt was crushed, the King revoked all concessions he had made to the rebels before Tyler went peasant on him, and most of the rebels were hunted down and executed.