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Watt Tyler and the Peasants’ Revolt, London, 1381
The Black Death led to a shortage of agricultural labour and thus to changing relationships between landowners and agricultural workers. To pay for war with France, the 14 year old King Edward II imposed another but excessive “Poll” tax. His government, dominated by the aristocracy and the church, was widely hated. Peasants and freeman rebelled. A force of around 60,000 from Kent entered London. The Kentish force, led by Watt Tyler, attacked key buildings and beheaded many leading figures of the regime. Watt Tyler was murdered during a meeting with the King. Leaderless and misled by the King, the rebellion subsided. Although unsuccessful, the Peasants’ Revolt marks the beginning of the end of serfdom.