libterm.com The English Rising of 1381, also known as the Peasants' Revolt, was a major uprising against feudal oppression and high taxation imposed after the Black Death. Commoners, including peasants and artisans, demanded social and economic reforms, challenging the established hierarchy and the ruling class's authority. Discover how this pivotal event shaped medieval England and its lasting impact on your understanding of social justice.
Table of Comparison
| Aspect | English Rising of 1381 | Jacquerie (1358) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | England | Northern France |
| Date | 1381 | 1358 |
| Causes | Poll tax, socio-economic inequality, feudal oppression | Feudal oppression, heavy taxation, war devastation |
| Leaders | Wat Tyler, John Ball | Guillaume Cale (or Charles) |
| Participants | Peasants, commoners, urban workers | Peasants, rural serfs |
| Goals | Abolish serfdom, reduce taxes, political reforms | End noble abuses, improve peasant rights |
| Outcome | Rebellion suppressed, leaders executed, slight reforms | Brutal repression, massacre of peasants |
| Historical Significance | Highlight of English social unrest, precursor to later reforms | Example of feudal resistance during Hundred Years' War |
Overview: English Rising of 1381 vs Jacquerie
The English Rising of 1381, also known as the Peasants' Revolt, was a widespread uprising driven by socio-economic tensions, including poll taxes and feudal oppression, primarily in England's southeastern counties. The Jacquerie of 1358, taking place in northern France, was a violent peasant revolt fueled by devastation from the Hundred Years' War and noble exploitation. Both revolts showcased grassroots resistance to feudal hierarchies, but the English uprising had broader coordination and political demands, while the Jacquerie was more localized and brutally suppressed.
Historical Backgrounds of the Revolts
The English Rising of 1381, also known as the Peasants' Revolt, emerged from widespread discontent over poll taxes, economic hardships after the Black Death, and feudal oppression during King Richard II's early reign. The Jacquerie of 1358 unfolded amid the devastation of the Hundred Years' War, marked by rampant violence and exploitation of the French peasantry by nobles struggling with ongoing military failures and taxation demands. Both revolts reflected deep-rooted social tensions triggered by feudal inequalities, war-induced crises, and fiscal pressures on rural populations.
Socio-Economic Causes Behind Each Uprising
The English Rising of 1381 was primarily fueled by widespread discontent over heavy taxation imposed to finance the Hundred Years' War, alongside resentment towards feudal obligations and labor restrictions such as the poll tax and serfdom. In contrast, the Jacquerie of 1358 in France emerged from the social devastation of the Hundred Years' War, aggravated by rampant violence, pillaging, and exploitation by nobility amidst peasant impoverishment and the collapse of local economies. Both uprisings reveal how feudal economic pressures and oppressive taxation catalyzed rural unrest, but the English revolt was more directly tied to fiscal policies while the Jacquerie was a response to broader war-induced social breakdown.
Key Figures and Leadership: Wat Tyler and the Jacques
Wat Tyler emerged as the pivotal leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381, orchestrating demands for economic and social reforms while directly negotiating with King Richard II. In contrast, the Jacquerie uprising of 1358 in France lacked a singular charismatic leader, with leadership dispersed among various local nobles and peasant groups resisting feudal oppression. The centralized leadership of Tyler contrasted sharply with the fragmented command of the Jacques, influencing the distinct tactical approaches and ultimate outcomes of the two revolts.
Role of Peasantry and Urban Classes
The English Rising of 1381 featured a significant alliance between the peasantry and urban classes, with Wat Tyler leading both rural serfs and London artisans demanding the end of serfdom and oppressive taxation. In contrast, the Jacquerie of 1358 was predominantly a rural peasant revolt lacking substantial urban support, focused on resisting noble brutality in northern France without the organized participation of townspeople. The varying social compositions influenced the uprisings' outcomes; the 1381 revolt demonstrated a broader social coalition while the Jacquerie remained an isolated rural insurgency.
Political Grievances and Demands
The English Rising of 1381, also known as the Peasants' Revolt, centered on demands to end serfdom, reduce oppressive taxation like the poll tax, and gain political representation through the rejection of feudal lords' authority. The Jacquerie of 1358 in France arose from similar political grievances, including resentment against noble tyranny, harsh feudal obligations, and abuses by local lords during the Hundred Years' War. Both uprisings highlighted widespread discontent with feudal exploitation and sought to reshape the social and political order to benefit the lower classes.
Course of Events: Timeline Comparison
The English Rising of 1381 began in May with peasants protesting poll taxes, escalating to the capture of London by late June, culminating in the execution of leaders like Wat Tyler by early July. The Jacquerie in France erupted in May 1358, with widespread peasant revolts rapidly spreading across northern France, brutally suppressed by the nobility by June. Both uprisings were swift, grassroots reactions to economic hardship and feudal oppression, with the English Rising displaying more urban involvement while the Jacquerie remained predominantly rural.
Methods and Tactics: Violence and Organization
The English Rising of 1381 employed mass mobilization of peasants using local networks, focusing on violent attacks against symbols of royal authority like tax collectors and manorial lords, characterized by spontaneous yet coordinated actions such as the storming of the Tower of London. In contrast, the Jacquerie uprising in 1358 demonstrated more fragmented organization with brutal, localized violence targeting nobility and manorial estates, often marked by unstructured assaults lacking centralized leadership. Both revolts utilized guerrilla-style tactics and collective violence but differed in coordination, with the English Rising showing a higher degree of organized mass action compared to the more chaotic and reactive nature of the Jacquerie.
Government Responses and Repression
The English Rising of 1381, also known as the Peasants' Revolt, prompted swift and brutal government repression, with King Richard II's forces executing rebel leaders such as Wat Tyler and imposing harsh reprisals to restore order. In contrast, the Jacquerie of 1358 in France faced even more violent suppression by the French nobility, who orchestrated mass executions and retaliatory raids to crush the peasant insurrection after King John II's capture left a power vacuum. Both uprisings elicited harsh responses reflecting the medieval ruling class's determination to maintain feudal control and prevent future revolts through terror and legal punishments.
Legacy and Impact on Medieval Europe
The English Rising of 1381, also known as the Peasants' Revolt, exposed deep social and economic tensions by challenging feudal authority and demanding the end of serfdom, influencing future labor reforms in medieval Europe. The Jacquerie uprising in France similarly reflected widespread peasant dissatisfaction but was more brutally suppressed, limiting its immediate political impact while highlighting the instability of feudal societies. Both revolts underscored the growing power of the lower classes, accelerating the gradual decline of feudalism and shaping European social structures in the late Middle Ages.
English Rising of 1381 Infographic
