Wat Tyler: The man who led the Peasants’ Revolt
The Peasants' Revolt broke out in May 1381, with the roofer-turned-rebel Wat Tyler standing up for rural labourers exploited by Richard II's government.
Image: The execution of Wat Tyler in front of Richard II | Public Domain
There’s a lot we don’t know about the 14th-century English rebel Wat Tyler. We can’t be certain where or when he was born. It’s not even clear whether ‘Wat Tyler’ was his formal name or more of an alias. At least one thing we can attribute to him, though, is his leading role in the Peasants’ Revolt.
What was the Peasants’ Revolt? As the name suggests, it was a major uprising largely instigated by the ‘common people’ against the English Crown. Starting in the late spring and early summer of 1381, protestors ransacked buildings owned by officials accused of financially exploiting lower classes.
For any such rebellion to stay the course, it needs an inspirational leader. Wat Tyler rose to prominence, playing a major part in negotiating with the reigning English king, Richard II. But what did the Peasants’ Revolt actually achieve?
Who was Wat Tyler?
As alluded to earlier, concrete details of Wat Tyler’s birthdate and birthplace are hard to come by. Even historical sources disagree. One specific birthdate put forward is 4th January 1341, but one alternative claim is that Tyler was actually born around 1320. As for his county of birth, Kent and Essex are both strong candidates.
Tyler allegedly served as an archer during the Hundred Years’ War. Meanwhile, the name Tyler is thought to have derived from another of his occupations – roof tiling. What about the name Wat? There is some evidence that his real first name might have been Walter or John.
We’d be tempted to lightheartedly describe Wat Tyler as a 14th-century Billy Bragg, but the term ‘Peasants’ Revolt’ is something of a misnomer. In truth, the movement attracted more than just the destitute. Its followers included artisans, tradesmen and even nobles – far from just the ‘hoi polloi’.
What caused the Peasants’ Revolt?
The seeds of the rebellion were sown decades before it began. One significant factor was the Black Death, which ravaged Europe in the 1340s and 1350s. The plague is thought to have killed about half the English population during this period.
This all left rural labourers in much shorter supply, with many having perished during the plague. As a result, the surviving labourers’ wages shot up. Landowners were the ones footing the bill, which ate uncomfortably into their profit margins.
Of course, the authorities at the time couldn’t have those pesky peasants getting ideas above their station. In an attempt to restore the financial equilibrium (as they saw it), the government passed legislation capping the labourers’ wages at pre-plague levels.
As if this didn’t create enough resentment among the working classes, they also soon found themselves being taxed through the nose. To fund a war against France, the Crown imposed a new ‘poll tax’ making no distinctions between social classes. In other words, the poor were legally required to pay exactly the same amount as the wealthy. The tax was met with uproar.
Key events of the Peasants’ Revolt
One historical account suggests that Tyler whipped up an anarchic frenzy after a poll-tax collector acted inappropriately towards Tyler’s daughter. When the collector attempted to peek under the daughter’s clothes to see if she was old enough to pay the tax, Tyler killed the man.
In any case, the following month, Tyler led a group of Kentishmen across London Bridge. After entering the city, Tyler met Richard II at Mile End on 14th June and demanded that he grant new rights to the peasants. The king pledged to do so, but Tyler was still not entirely satisfied with these concessions. The pair consequently spoke again the next day at Smithfield, outside London.
Tyler’s rudeness on that occasion sparked an altercation with a member of the king’s party. The Lord Mayor of London, William Walworth, arrested Tyler, who then attempted to stab him. Walworth went on to slash Tyler with his sword before having him publicly beheaded. With their leader now dead, Tyler’s followers dispersed.
What was Wat Tyler’s legacy?
On the face of it, very little. A disgusted Richard II rescinded his previous promises to the rebels, but did at least resist bringing back the unpopular poll tax.
Arguably, Wat Tyler’s legacy was much more cultural than political. Was he the original working-class hero? That is certainly the kind of reputation he has garnered in the modern age.
The past has been punctuated with many other tumultuous social upheavals. To find out how their effects have long reverberated, subscribe to the Sky HISTORY newsletter.
