In 1381 a fierce rebellion started in Kent and Essex; the king at the time, only 14 years old, Richard II was clinging on to the throne as peasant stormed into London destroying everything in their path, determined to get what they want at any cost.
The Peasants' Revolt started in Essex on 30 May 1381 when a tax collector tried, again, to collect the Poll Tax for the war against France. These were hated because everyone over the age of 14 had to pay 4d which was a lot of money, which almost all peasants could not afford. At this time the war was going very badly, the government's reputation was going down, and the Poll tax was the last straw for the people of Essex. Ever since the black death had ended people began demanding that all men should …show more content…
Then they marched to London where the rebels crossed over London Bridge; somehow the defenses on London Bridge were opened from the inside by the guards and the rebels advanced into the city where they went and vandalised the city and destroyed the houses of rich politicians. They continued wreaking London the next day setting fire to more buildings and letting out inmates at Newgate Prison. The rebels stormed the tower of London to try and find the king, but he left the castle that morning and made his way to negotiate with the rebels at Mile End in east London, taking only one bodyguard with him. While he was away the Tower was taken by the rebels. They approached the castle in the late morning. The gates were open for Richard on his return and a crowd of around 400 rebels entered the fortress, with no one stopping them, properly because the guards feared them. When inside, the rebels began to hunt down their targets and found Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England Simon Sudbury, Kings uncle John of Gaunt and Sir Robert Hales. They were taken out of the tower and beheaded. Their heads were paraded around the city, before being put on London Bridge. The rebels found John of Gaunt's son, the future Henry IV, and were about to execute him as well but then one of the royal guards stopped them. The rebels also found Lady Joan Holland, Richard's sister, in the castle but let her go unharmed after making fun of
The Peasants' Revolt started in Essex on 30 May 1381 when a tax collector tried, again, to collect the Poll Tax for the war against France. These were hated because everyone over the age of 14 had to pay 4d which was a lot of money, which almost all peasants could not afford. At this time the war was going very badly, the government's reputation was going down, and the Poll tax was the last straw for the people of Essex. Ever since the black death had ended people began demanding that all men should …show more content…
Then they marched to London where the rebels crossed over London Bridge; somehow the defenses on London Bridge were opened from the inside by the guards and the rebels advanced into the city where they went and vandalised the city and destroyed the houses of rich politicians. They continued wreaking London the next day setting fire to more buildings and letting out inmates at Newgate Prison. The rebels stormed the tower of London to try and find the king, but he left the castle that morning and made his way to negotiate with the rebels at Mile End in east London, taking only one bodyguard with him. While he was away the Tower was taken by the rebels. They approached the castle in the late morning. The gates were open for Richard on his return and a crowd of around 400 rebels entered the fortress, with no one stopping them, properly because the guards feared them. When inside, the rebels began to hunt down their targets and found Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England Simon Sudbury, Kings uncle John of Gaunt and Sir Robert Hales. They were taken out of the tower and beheaded. Their heads were paraded around the city, before being put on London Bridge. The rebels found John of Gaunt's son, the future Henry IV, and were about to execute him as well but then one of the royal guards stopped them. The rebels also found Lady Joan Holland, Richard's sister, in the castle but let her go unharmed after making fun of