England
Peasants Rebellion
One of the early events of Richard's reign was an intense if short-lived crisis known as the Peasants Rebellion. In contrast with his later career, Richard handled himself rather well during these events.
The war in France was going badly in 1381 and had been for some time. England had suffered over a decade of setbacks and now expeditions were being aimed at recovering lost ground. The war effort was led by John of Gaunt, one of Richard's uncles, who was widely disliked. New taxes had been levied in order to pay for the war and these were resented. Then came a defeat in the field. All these made the social situation in England highly combustible.
Because of John's heavy hand, when confronted with peasants burning and looting, the barons temporarily united behind Richard. This was easy to do when the king was still only a boy and so was mainly a symbol and rallying-point. The Peasants Rebellion caused them to put aside their differences at least for a time.
The revolt itself is recounted elsewhere; here I will concentrate mainly on Richard's role in it.
Although called the Peasants Rebellion, the revolt included far more than just average peasants. Among those rising up against local oppression were the burghers of London. They were successful enough that King Richard had to hide in the Tower. He was only fifteen at the time.
The city was regained quickly enough, but the city was ready to ally with a peasant army that was drawing near. At the advice of his counsellors, Richard treated with them. He received their petition of grievances at Blackheath on 13 June 1381. That document named eight supposed traitors to the crown and asked for justice. It's worth emphasizing that Richard himself wasn't ruling England at the time; rather, a council of great barons held authority in his name, until he should reach manhood. It was these men (some of them, along with others who were their allies) who were marked out as enemies of the common people of England.
The rebels wanted to talk directly with the king. Despite advice to the contrary, Richard agreed. But he compromised: he would speak with them from the safety of a boat on the Thames River. So they met on 14 June, at Mile End. Even as they met, a group of men broke into the Tower, where Richard was still staying for safety's sake, dragged two men out and executed them. Richard had to find other accommodations that night.
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| Death of Wat Tyler |
Yet he still went out the next morning to meet a third time with the rebels. This time, he met on solid land, riding with only a small party of armed men. There he met with the rebel leader Wat Tyler. Something happened, it's not clear what. Swords were drawn and a fight broke out. Wat Tyler was killed on the spot.
Richard now showed courage, or at least the recklessness of youth. He rode forward into the melee, daring the rebels to shoot him and urging his own people to stand firm. He offered himself as the leader of the mob, and the rebels, now leaderless, chose to follow him. He promised all their demands, which had been handed to him in writing before the fighting broke out, would receive fair hearing, letting them believe they would be met. At Richard's urging, the peasant army dissolved into groups of men, returning to their homes.
So ended the Peasants Rebellion. Richard returned to London and lapsed into inactivity. The council of barons resumed rule, and brutal retaliations were visited upon the villages of southern England. The whole incident shows how Richard was fickle and wayward, brave but arbitrary, decisive one moment and indolent the next. He was able to win the loyalty of some, but for every friend he made, he made an enemy.