Everything Everywhere Daily · Tuesday, August 4, 2026
The climax of the Peasants' Revolt occurred at Smithfield on June 14th, 1381, when Wat Tyler presented radical demands to King Richard II. During a scuffle, Tyler was killed by a royal attendant. Richard, in a bold move, addressed the rebels, promising concessions, but after the crowd dispersed, the government reneged on all promises, leading to mass arrests and executions, including John Ball.
“Tyler presented even more radical set of demands, which included the abolition of all lordships, save that of the king, the redistribution of the church's wealth amongst the common people, and the establishment of a single legal status for all Englishmen.”
“During the meeting, a scuffle broke out in which Tyler was killed by one of the king's attendants and died of his wounds shortly afterward.”
“In the tense moments that followed, with the rebel crowd on the verge of violence, the young king, Richard, rode forward alone towards the rebels, and in a courageous act for a 14-year-old, called out that he would be their leader and give them all that they sought, urging them to draw them out of the city.”
“Once the main mob had dispersed, Richard and his government abandoned all of their concessions to the rebels. The charters of freedom were revoked. According to one traditional account, Richard told petitioners that they were villains and would remain villains.”
“John Ball was captured near Coventry and brought to St. Albans, where he was tried in the king's presence and executed on July 15th by being hung, drawn, and quartered.”