peasants' revolt

English - English

Definition of peasants' revolt in English English dictionary

a protest in 1381 involving large numbers of English peasants, who were angry about unfair social and economic conditions and about high taxes. They formed an unoffical army, led by Wat Tyler, and marched to London, where they demanded better conditions and took control of the Tower of London. The English king, Richard II, pretended to agree to some of their demands, but after their leaders were killed he changed his mind, so the revolt failed. or Wat Tyler's Rebellion (1381) First great popular rebellion in English history. It was triggered by the poll tax of 1381, which angered labourers and artisans already resentful of the limits on wages fixed by the Statute of Labourers (1351). Centred in southeastern England and East Anglia, the revolt was led by Wat Tyler (d. 1381), who marched into London with a band of Kentish rebels. They captured the Tower of London and beheaded officials responsible for the poll tax. Richard II promised reforms, but Tyler was killed in his presence by the mayor of London. The last of the rebels were subdued in East Anglia two weeks later

Related Terms

Peasants Revolt

rebellion of farmers in southern Germany as a result of economic hardship (1525)

Hyphenation

peasants' re·volt

Turkish pronunciation

pezınts rivōlt

Pronunciation

/ˈpezənts rēˈvōlt/ /ˈpɛzənts riːˈvoʊlt/