Key Conflicts and Social Upheaval in Medieval England
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The Peasants' Revolt
Peasants were not a homogeneous mass. The level of rents depended to some degree on the type of lord, the local economy, and the ability of the peasant class to resist the various demands of lordship.
The Black Death, the plague that struck Britain from 1348, killed almost half the population. Those agricultural workers who survived found their wages rising. Consequently, there were three poll taxes and legislation stating that wages could not rise above pre-plague levels.
The peasants were not just protesting against the government; since the Black Death, the poor had become increasingly angry that they were still serfs. They demanded:
- That all men should be free and equal
- Less harsh laws
- Fairer distribution of wealth
The Lord Mayor of London attacked the rebels' leader. Before the rebel army could retaliate, Richard II stepped forward and promised to abolish serfdom. The peasants went home, but later, government troops turned on the villages, hanging men who had taken part in the revolt.
The Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) was fought primarily between France and England. It spilled over into surrounding regions such as Italy, Spain, the Low Countries, and western Germany. It was a struggle between two of medieval Europe’s major dynasties:
- Valois Dynasty: Controlled France since the elevation of Hugh Capet.
- Plantagenets: Ruled England since William the Conqueror sailed across the channel in 1066.
The conflict lasted almost twelve decades. Regarding the policy of conciliation, the King met the mob and their leader, Wat Tyler, at Mile End. Richard rode alone into the middle of the rebel host, crying: “You shall have no captain but me.”
The Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars for the throne of England. The power struggle ignited around social and financial troubles following the Hundred Years' War. In 1485, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth. He was crowned Henry VII and married Elizabeth of York, effectively ending the conflict.