If you want a good idea of what kind of king Richard II was both during and after the Revolt, think of Joffrey from Game of Thrones. The rebels' biggest mistake was leaving him alive and ironically, he died in a revolt against him led by his cousin. No one on the top is on the side of those on the bottom. The sooner we all learn that, the better.
I AGREE! The estimated world population is 7.8 billion. I'm pretty sure the wealthy are very small portion of that number. Imagine if we could organize a new Peasants Revolt.The idea of interrupting the debauchery of the wealthy with a bit of a scare does make me smile.
Not really. They should behave better to avoid giving cause to authorities to kill them. Also to make demands that are more reasonable and don’t make the king look weak. If they killed the king they just untie the hands of all of the subservient to kill all of them.
The deciding factor for me is how the word ‘tyrants’ is defined. It seems to be used very loosely in the States these days by both “sides”. Which is not a good thing. Since actual tyrants need removing……agreement on who is a tyrant and who is merely a disliked or unpopular politician is the “rub”.
My Dad's name was Ball, my mother's Baker, and I come from Essex, my sister reckons we are descended from Peasant's Revolt folk, and I wouldn't be surprised. I live in Australia now, but my sister refused to pay the poll tax which Thatcher imposed. I must say, this documentary names places I knew well, we lived in Manningtree.
The story of the Peasants' Revolt resonates today, as does the full sermon of John Ball, which I looked up thanks to this program. His words show that the drive of some to exploit others is ever present, and requires constant opposition. I only hope that today we don't make the same mistake of believing that the powerful will actually concede that easily. It's an ongoing struggle.
American bred, born, & raised here. One of the most enjoyable history docs I’ve ever seen. The locations, writing, editing, all excellent. Not a lot of eyeball roll-worthy melodramatics, a good thing. And I must say, I loved the cheekiness (am I using that word correctly?) of the production. I laughed out loud when the host wandered over & turned off that “genuine” peasant campfire. The bit about sharing the tea treats from the Savoy with the ‘peasants’ in the street was - dare I say it? - really sweet. My amusement dried up when King Richard enacted his reprisals for uprising. I have a nearly 32-year-old son. If he’d behaved this way at 14 (or any age), I’d have tanned his hide! 😛 As an average, middle-aged American I never heard of the Peasant Rebellion in medieval England. It wasn’t covered in school, natch. We Americans are pretty myopic when it comes to history - even the history of the country from which this one derived! Thank you for uploading. THUMBS UP.
now, i'm thinking there is a good reason why you "westerners" usually have crappy history classes in your schools, compering to us, eastern europeans. it's not just studying history is not pragmatic enough...
I love this guys approach to history, it is such an interesting format the way they filmed and edit it . It is really brilliantly produced, Narration is this presenter's superpower! It deserves high praise! This is how history should be taught in school!
I mean, I don't have a particular interest in old English history, but here I am, watching and learning of the horrors. I hope they show his programs in English schools. He is everything a history teacher should be.
If you enjoy Tony's presentation style, check out the TIME TEAM series of programmes of which he was a key part. I learned a great deal about history from this series which also included a few international sites.
Christopher Lyerly. I thought it odd too, but I like blues guitar. Reminds me of Skeleton Key the movie that I. saw a few years ago. I feel in love with a song called "Death Letter" by Johnny Farmer. I'm going to go find it right now.
The visual of these people jumping on the queen's bed is just too perfect. In my mind, there's also a pillow fight or two, eventually culminating in a raucous game of _"The Floor is Lava!"_
People fervently believed at that time that the king was God's appointed representative on Earth. They naively assumed that it was only the courtiers that were corrupt and that the King would seek truth, justice and fairness for all man. The same thing happened when York fell to Robert Aske rebels against Henry 8th . Aske (a trained lawyer) assumed that God's representative King Henry would offer fair justice.
We got the absolute monarch to actually agree to policy reforms, execute the nefarious aristocrats, and make permanent concessions in writing that will ensure our lives are better! Now kill 'em! Guess 'Quit while your ahead.' wasn't a saying yet. XD Wat Tyler sounds like the type who would've just declared himself king in a week or two after taking over.
Oh, the irony of watching a documentary about The Peasant's Revolt, interrupted incessantly by adverts for Nestle, banks, and car companies. Gives one a strong desire to start plundering.
@@sampuatisamuel9785 Not even that - Richard the II was buying time for the reinforcements to come -- when they did and surrounded them? Mass murder. So much for the signed documents and promises... fascism never changes.
Or from Mel Brooks' The History of the World Part 1: Count DeMoney: "Sire, it is said that the peasants are revolting!" King Louis: "You said it! They stink on ice!"
I ❤ Tony Robinson. He focuses on how ordinary people shape history more than anyone else doing Timeline documentaries, and masterfully entertains while he's doing it.✌
@@jamesmoran5192 So ppl are good as long as they share your culture, and came out of their mother's crotch in the right country? You aren't better than an immigrant, and were just lucky to be born where you were.
Thank you to the peasants, for riding up. Thank you to you Tony, and the experts who relived and explained their footsteps. May the Government listen to the ordinary folks
Gabe Moore ,It really is an interesting insight of what happened in that time,it’s a reality & not a myth of days long past that can be inspirational on the people’s right to a governing body to be aware of the populous & it’s grievances of today as well.(No chopping of heads of course)Lol.
The fatal error of thousands, millions of rebels giving up when your rebel leader has been executed by the status quo . Never be brainwashed by "the cult of personality" or that somehow your "leader" is what holds you together . Every progressive and revolutionary leader of this post modern era will tell you its not about me its about all of us . Never ever think of your top spokespersons as some precious leader who if he capitulates or is murdered , than the cause is lost . And never ever give in to, never believe in, the king or the status quo .
imo the first mistake that people make is not listening to their own hearts to begin with. They easily get swept up in the excitement of movements, like leaves in the wind, but they are not fully committed. To get involved, or not to get involved. Being in alignment (spiritually, mentally, emotionally) with what you are doing is crucial. This principal is also valuable to avoid getting into situations where one can potentially open oneself up to manipulation.
Baldrick you Legend I watched a history doc with a lesser historical man and they wouldn't let him pick up the head, a cunningly executed show I certainly plan on watching more Tony Robinson content
I hope you have followed through on this, and if you haven't found it already I suggest checking out Time Team Classics here on YT they are releaseing full versions of the original Time Team digs shown on C4 back in the day...
"Government can only work if the people are prepared to be governed" So...you're saying if we all stop paying taxes and march on London we can overthrow the government? I'm in!
What about infrastructure, healthcare, education, the legal system, local security ergo police, national security, prisons, waste, etc all public goods? We need a state... Although we do not need an over bearing monolith..
That is not what I saw. There is no honor from the controlling class, it is all deception and control at all cost. Then when you win you destroy the vermin working humans to keep their children afraid of doing it again because it is hopeless. They split and quartered your mommy and daddy if not impaled them on a pole like the Romans did.
Saying no to the boss at work takes some doing, let alone standing up to a system of oppression that is prepared to torture and mutilate you and your loved ones just for wanting a modicum of equality. Respect. Not wasted, we’re still talking about this and it’s wider impact.
This revolt gave way to the starting point of the âge of discovery as john gantt went to the Iberian peninsula to fight for the Castilian crown and married one of his daughters to the King John I of Portugal. One of the offspring was Henry the Navigator .... You could continue this history and dig into the overseas implications of this revolt and the direction that it imprinted to some of the non present intervenient but nevertless important ones.
@@brentfarvors192 That’s not the point. Law and lawyering is overwhelmingly serves and is in the favor of people already powerful and wealthy. OP, maybe overstates the case here in their analogy but that point that these lawyers for the powerful are always the bad guys is true.
@@brentfarvors192 Your motivation for that comment was to defend lawyers as a class, my best guess. That’s fine. OP overstated their case but what I think they meant was lawyers generally are not the good guys in many cases. So “off with their heads”. It’s not a big deal. Just pointing that out.
@@cjaquilino I neither insinuated a "motive", nor had one; I posted the comment because it's the TRUTH! Nothing more, nor less than the truth! No where did I either support the law profession, OR vilify it! If YOU are accused of a crime you didn't commit, the FIRST PERSON you will want is a LAWYER! Period. End of statement!
@@Pfsif It's an important tradition from our British ancestors that is carried on here in Australia, though the container is not always a sweaty riding helmet as not so many of us ride these days.
This account leaves out a great deal of relevant historical context. The revolt occurred shortly after the Great Plague of 1345-51, when about a third of the English population died. The "aftershocks" of the plague were still continuing and taking even more lives. It is estimated that by 1400 the population of England had declined by 50 percent. This disaster did not create despair in the population, however. Instead, it seemed to spark a powerful desire by the survivors to better their lot. The peasants could not bring back any of their loved ones who had died in the disaster. So many of them focused on how they could better their lot and that of their surviving children and grandchildren in other ways. Rebelling against centuries of social injustice was one way of doing this. It also was a way of overcoming the terrible feelings of hopelessness and despair that the plague must have generated. Death in battle was also a more honorable way to die in the medieval mind than succumbing helplessly to a terrible illness that no one except God could do anything about. But it was still possible to fight back against injustice inflicted by other people. The peasants had always been active, robust people. Simply being passive in the face of the terrible natural disaster was not an acceptable option for them. So they concentrated on doing what they could to improve their lot in other ways.
They did mention the plague in part one, but your reflections as to the psychological effects on the survivors offers an added dimension and food for thought. Thanks.
Remember when Mike Loades refers to reaping the corn,in England,corn has been an old time word for grain. No maize corn in England till well after Columbus. Confusion over usage of the word has been an issue for a very long time.
paul manson just like how apple used to mean any fruit and girl used to be used instead of child. It's old English *old* English. No txt language of millions genders in the 14th century. Back when men where allowed to be men, and women knew how to take responsibility.
Paul Manson,that explains something I read in a fiction novel that took place in the early 15th century There was a mention of a horse that was fed corn instead of grass and the man who mentioned it thought that it was outrageously expensive and not necessary.I had thought the horse was eating actual corn which could've been used to feed people
Probably from the scandinavian word korn one type of grain, vete, korn, havre, råg all names of difrent types of grain in scandinavia. The vikings really destroyed some parts of the English language you use a large number of scandinavian words daily in Great Britain to day.
Inspiring for any group of exploited people. Little has changed in terms of the suppression of individuals and the social divide between the aristocracy and the rest. The aristocracy cling on to power and privilege by keeping the rest divided and misinformed. Change requires unity and clear organisation.
That was starting to happen in 2012/2013 with the occupy Wallstreet movement but the elites successfully divided the populous before the movement got to much momentum.
I'm left wondering what would have happened if Tyler had not made more demands to Richard II. RII had after all organised his monks to draw up the original demands once they were back at the "wardrobe" - abolish serfdom etc. But then Tyler made more demands and then things turned against the revolt.
It wasn't Tyler's extra demands. Richard, and the nobles around him, had no intention whatever of keeping his word. Along with the rebels, the copies of the so-called charter were hunted down and destroyed. Richard sent an emissary to the Pope to get absolution from the oath he took(you could get released from anything you did if you sent the Pope a big enough bribe. As long as it didn't offend the Church). His statement to the peasants was "Serfs were you born, serfs will you remain!", and he made the laws that bound the serfs to the land even stricter. Richard II was one of the WORST English kings ever
@@mikegrossberg8624 That's some stiff competition, what are the measuring for bad monarchs? Bad for their own system or bad for the masses over whom they tread?
@@mikegrossberg8624 That's entirely untrue. He was forced into revoking his oath by the real rulers, his uncles who took control of the realm - and the young king - during his minority. He spent his entire reign trying to wrest power from them. See my previous comment. He was a tragic king, but not a bad one, and he remained generally popular among his subjects. His enemies wrote most of the accounts of his reign, and they had a vested interest in slandering the memory of the king who they'd deposed and murdered. His comment "Serfs you were born, serfs you will remain", if it is genuine, can be seen as a bitter statement of defeat. The system was too strong, the power of the aristocracy too absolute at that time, for any prospect of change. Yet change did come, gradually as the country prospered during Richard's later reign and in the following century. The peasants were able to demand better wages and conditions as the country had a skills shortage, and when the wool trade started to take off there was a boost in living conditions and the middle classes were born. Richard II encouraged literacy and education and the translation of scripture into English, empowering ordinary people. Money saved by halting the war with France was spent on culture and the arts and sciences as well as building projects. Pubs flourished! That's why so many were called The White Hart or the Rising Sun after Richard's royal emblems. The country got back on its feet again after the devastation of the Black Death. Richard II was a complex character and had his faults (what mediaeval monarch didn't!) but was far from being England's "worst king". That honour probably went to King John, though Henry VIII was one of the most brutal.
Careful what you wish for. My own observation is that Britain was among the most fortunate of Europe's many states in how it evolved. #unintendedconsequences
Who knows how for sure how things will have turned out and yes we have had a most fortunate history but the class system that still resonates from Feudalism has a grip on opportunity in the UK. We are far from a meritocracy.
Brian Tyler Yeah you should find out the true story of the French Revolution. It was one of histories biggest blood baths that spared no one rich or poor. Then in the preceding carnage and mess, in desperation to restore order, the greatest irony it ended up being ruled by Napoleon as it's dictator.
The little traitor wound up dead later though after being yanked off the throne, so in the end he got his end 18 years later He was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. On September 29, after a series of meetings in the Tower of London, Richard was forced to lay aside his crown. On the following day the king’s statement of abdication was read in Parliament and approved. The assembly also assented to the articles of deposition, because abdication alone, as an act that could be rescinded, was insufficient. When the proceedings were concluded, Richard was taken from the Tower to Leeds and later to Pontefract. In January 1400 a group of his former courtiers, led by the earl of Salisbury, plotted to restore him to the throne. Their rebellion was crushed, but it convinced Bolingbroke, by now Henry IV, that he could no longer allow Richard to live. Sometime in February the former king was put to death; by what means is not known. In his history Hume notes the accepted opinion that Richard was murdered by Sir Pierce Exton at Pomfret Castle in 1400, but his conclusion is that Richard probably died of hunger rather than from execution by Exton. "Historians differ," Hume says, "with regard to the manner in which he was murdered." It was long the prevailing opinion, that Sir Piers Exton, and others of his guard, fell upon him the Castle of Pomfret, where he was confined, and despatched him with their halberts. But it is more probable that he was starved to death in prison; and after all sustenance was denied him, he prolonged his unhappy life, it is said, for a fortnight, before he reached the end of his miseries. This account is more consistent with the story, that his body was exposed in public, and that no marks of violence were observed upon it. He died in the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the twenty-third of his reign.
Wow! Quite an unhappy end to a King who had shown such promise. Perhaps it was poetic justice or it was the Nobles who got back at him for letting the revolt occur in the first place!
The most maligned king in British history. This brave 14 year old had no power to grant the rebels' demands but was entirely controlled by the lords who actually ruled the country during Richard's minority. He wished to negotiate and grant some concessions, but was prevented from doing so and was forced to go back on his word, and was also forced to watch the executions. At the age of 21 he was still denied power and had to insist on his right to rule - yet was opposed on every front by these barons who would not surrender their powers. Once he eventually took some control he angered them by pausing the 100 years war with France, commanding that English be the official language of the court, and encouraging reforms in religious matters (his adored wife Anne was from Bohemia where reforming ideas were popular). He was the first king since the Norman Conquest to speak English as a first language. He wrote the first English cookery book ("The Form of Cury"). He is said to have invented the handkerchief. He banned the trying of "witches" and upheld the tradition of sanctuary against moves to abolish it. He was a tremendous patron of the arts, promoting and supporting Geoffrey Chaucer and the great architect William of Wykeham who redesigned Westminster Abbey and the wonderful nave of Winchester Cathedral. In his reign English music, art and literature flourished as never before. After his wife died suddenly he was grief stricken and furious with the barons who had disrespected her and opposed her influence, and he memorably took a savage revenge, seizing and executing the worst of the tyrants. In the final years of his reign he consolidated his power and tried to rule absolutely, not trusting advisers, and for this his enemies who eventually deposed him and wrote the official chronicles labelled him a tyrant. Yet Richard II remained generally popular, especially in the provinces, which he visited frequently. He was especially popular on the Welsh Borders where he was affectionately known as "Diccon". He took his White Hart badge from the white deer who roamed the great forest of Gwent, where he liked to hunt. Unfortunately he and Anne had no children, so he named his nephew Harry of Monmouth, son of his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, as his heir. The teenage Harry went on campaign with his uncle Richard in Ireland and greatly admired him. But while they were out of the country Bolingbroke organised a plot among disaffected aristocracy to capture the king on his return. This was done, and King Richard was deposed in 1399 at the age of 33, and Bolingbroke seized the throne as Henry IV. His son never forgave him and hated his father (who really was a tyrant), becoming Henry V when his father died. Richard II was imprisoned and almost certainly starved to death - certainly murdered. His supporters never accepted the coup, constantly fomented rebellion, and eventually became the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses that kicked off after the untimely death of the young Henry V. But it was Bolingbroke's faction (including the French historian Froissart) who wrote the histories that Shakespeare drew on and subsequent ages accepted uncritically. So maybe it isn't surprising that the biased and distorted view of this king has prevailed and is still trotted out in almost all histories. Interestingly Terry Jones of Monty Python fame was a fan of Richard II and tried to rehabilitate him. He was not a strong ruler - he wasn't allowed to be by the oligarchy that clung to power for much of his reign - but he was a sincere, brave and honest and possibly a rather naive one, who seems to have been traumatised by his humiliating treatment at the hands of his scheming uncles. He was in real danger at Smithfield at the hands of the rebels, and had been abandoned by the unprepared court. He knew he, at 14, would have to try to save the day somehow, and he probably had some sympathy for the rebels (though Wat Tyler was certainly a thug). He was made to pay for this afterwards. Those were harsh times. Just setting the record straight!
Thanks for the documentary. I had no knowledge of the Peasants' Revolt. I was wondering about the extent that the political and social landscape traces back to the Norman Conquest. Were the aristocracy largely descended from the Normans and the peasants from the Anglo-Saxons? Anyway, I find it interesting that the peasants were looking to reform the government, not replace the aristocracy with their leaders, which shows considerable sensitivity about the structure of government versus personal ambition. Replacing one set of rulers with another doesn't improve the peasant's lot. Maybe another lesson is to know a good deal when you get it and not sacrifice it for an unattainable ideal.
I am no expert, but they did want to reform the nature of Gov't completely, except for the King. They wanted common law, and local law enforcement. The end of aristrocracy was their goal. The freedom these people wanted did not die with their revolt. The ability to achieve their end is another matter I'm not prepared to address. Being an American we like to think that we broke with the old traditions of ruling elites... Now we find ourselves on the verge of another terrible reign of oppression that seeks to change even our nature as human beings... For those of us who survive their death shots... Organization is very difficult in a total surveillance state. It is well that we fight now, and not wait until it gets worse !
Indeed; it was only the hardliners who made up a tiny majority (less than a percent) who demanded an end to the aristocracy, because that was completely alien to the people of the time. Most of them wanted only freedom and fair treatment, not a complete restructuring of the social order.
The Yellow Jackets in Paris ... When people are fed up and have nothing to loose, when elections dont change anything, when people dont have any money left do do something else during their weekends, except attacking the symbols of their claims : the luxury shops on The Champs Elysées, where any lady's handbag is worth at least twice the minimum legal wage, and up. And the repression is escalading, simply because it is has to match in intensity the people's genuine demand for respect and social decency. That was clearly coming and there is a clear common cause between 1381 and 2019. I mostly agree with this documentary conclusion : people need/ask to be governed, but not at any cost.
My late Grandmother was born in Rotherhythe in March, 1898. 'Tis passing strange for me to realise that she was born on-or-near one of the most important sites in the long and storied history of the evolution of Democracy in the (now) United Kingdom. Kind and Respectful Regards, Tony Robinson and Team, Uyraell, Wellington, New Zealand.
'The violence that they meted out in the Peasant's Revolt is unlike anything that there's been in London in my lifetime' - Drummer Lee Rigby would probably disagree with that, as would the victims of the almost daily stabbings, Tony.
At first i thought, well, lets watch it on the split screen. work on the other half..... But than i was fascinated how Tony Robinson talks, runs around, arms working like windmills... his team, cameraman, sound man, they must have been exhausted by the end of the day? i actually stopped working, turned to full screen and watched right to the end. - chapeau -.
Yas. Its a british thing. Idk what it is because im asian but when i went to primary school in manchester, the teacher always did that before handing out sheets of paper so i asked and apparently it was normal so -_-
@@erin5553 its certainly not a british thing at all. Im British and dont know anyone who would do that. Its bloody revolting. To say its a british thing is unbelievably stupid. Do you think the british dont know about manners or need lessons from asia? Dream on. Robinson is one man who happens to have revolting habits. Dont go assuming we are all like that.
The rebels dragged out the lawyers from the courts and cut their heads off? BOOOOOHOOOOBOOO! My heart bleeds. Think I'll have another glass of chilled Chablis.
The guy in the armor looks like an "Empire" storm trooper in a "Star Wars" film, except more "metallic" and less "plastic". Obviously "evil", though, whether it be the 14th or the 21st Century.
I've always loved history and science. And what this program does is reinforce that feeling ten fold. You folks turn history into contemporary knowledge. In essence you erase time.
THE PEASANT’S REVOLT of 1381 (half the country was involved in the revolt) : The 4 Demands by the peasants to the King : 1) End to bonded labor 2) Freedom to trade as they wanted. 3) Charge of 4 pence an acre for land rent across the nation. 4) No punishments for participating in the revolt. The King concedes. They required written verification called Charters of Freedom, one for every village representative.
So you're telling me people in the 14th century were like real humans, capable of complex thoughts? They weren't the same as mindless animals? Wow, what a revelation. > sarcasm off
Lol. I was thinking that too. To be fair - I think Tony Robinson's point was just that we shouldn't believe cliches. I remember an American archaeologist in Egypt saying in a doco that when she uncovered a mummified body it was the first time she realised these people were "almost human, like us".
@@Kitiwake Settings aside the 'psychological replication crisis', I only recently learnt human brains are 20% smaller than 20,000 years ago. This might have something to do with domestication, since the same thing happens with dogs compared to wolves (and wolves are better problem solvers than dogs).
Finally!!! The best way of disbarring corrupt lawyers I’ve ever heard!!! Time is coming when history will repeat if the self appointed dont catch on soon.
Thanks Tony for this video and yes it just goes to show what the middle ages was like and how very cleaverly they planned this kind of revolt in those days again thank you Tony for an interesting video.😊
Do you really think society has changed, with the Monarchy, Nobility and aristocracy still regarding us as peasants and lording it over us 640 years later?
Most likely used n axe, that's why Anne Bolyn asked for a sword, and why it was considered an act of kindness in old Scandinavia to dispose of a rebelious slave with a sword rather than to beat them to death, hang or use an axe.
Obviously this was a joke, but just an FYI, an executioner's axe, in those days, not to mention any other potential beheading weapons, were not sharpened, and thus were quite dull. Even cutting through a human, bone is very tough and dulls the blade. As the former replier stated, death by blade was a blessing, as they were often sharpened and required less 'chopping'.
@@StratospheralNurse And highly skilled to get you when you're not expecting the strike. Making a sound on the left and quietly leaping to the right with a very powerful and swift strike perfectly aimed at the back of the neck. That's what Ann Bolyn got. I hear that your mind still is alert for 2 minutes.
I'm not entirely sure that they were ever prepared to do that. As that "benevolent dictator" Napoleon so aptly put it: "Religion is what keeps the Poor from Killing the Rich." As true today as then.
No white gloves while handling that Valuable Antique Head? A useful Relic, Alas Poor Tax Collector, I knew you well! What Opinion of He you served, would you now Tell? Abandoned to die, by a ill swung Sword, No Hero's Grave, just this Dark Cupboard! So delightfully Tragic!
@@JerryEricsson there is a facial reconstruction of the skull.. search the tax man his name "simon of sudbury" and you will see his real face on google
The same exact thing...The king would have pretended to concede; Waited until the crowds dispersed, Called in reserves, and hunted them down like wolves...Their ONLY OPTION to keep their heads, was to kill the king, AND his men...
Some things never change, we're still being taxed to death, waiting for another Thomas the baker. This video also explains why the UK is so anti gun. They want the peasants unarmed.
Jim, everything is comparative. This information may not change your views on tax or guns but the USA is actually one of the lowest taxing countries in the international Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, being 30th out of 37 nations in 2019. I'm not sure how US taxation might go much lower without compromising essential public services and public infrastructure. The shamefully high rate of US poverty (5th highest in the OECD) is not caused by high taxation. Contrary to the myth of the American Dream, it's caused by inequality of opportunity, poverty-creating unskilled wages, and extraordinary disadvantage amongst those who cannot work, notably the elderly. And regarding guns, it's actually the public majority, not governments, in both the UK and Australia who don't want the guns. We see the bloody gun carnage that happens in the USA and say no to that insanity. The American War of Independence ended over 200 years ago. It's long past the time to stand down and stop slaughtering each other.
@@joejones9520 they will have to kill over 100 mill. of us gun owners to do it. we will never give up our right to own guns and the right to defend our self's.
@@peterevans5881 you know nothing of our United States Constitution and Bill of Rights then. Our right to own guns is for defense and to keep the government in check. the US fought that war against a empire that wanted to control people. our founders knew the best defense is a armed populace against a government that might put into thought of total control of its people just as freedom of speech also does. but you can not defend your self with words against a army. as for the so called gun carnage . the US rates very well per 100,00 , all this so called gun carnage is in gun free zones hhhhmmm go figure. matter of fact our highest murder rates are in cities where all fire arms are banned. criminals do not follow the law, leaving unarmed people to die for false safety.
I would suggest that the peoples from back then were actually 'smarter' about these issues than the people today... for back then, people did not have much else to do than work and discuss the difficulties in life... yes, today people have greater access to information... and more methods of communication... but today... the world is so much more complex... and for the most part, today's issues aren't life and death struggles... back then... as we see from these stories... death is a pretty regular event... and very little concern was given to other people's welfare.
The world, all of it, ran by "right of conquest". Sour grapes over losing is what it is, but "right" and "wrong" are subjective and do not exist in nature.
But they do in human nature, even if their content is not fixed. That's one cynical but probably largely correct view of things, Ob. Fortunately, it is not the whole view, and life would not have survived without optimism and some measure of fairness.
last week i was walking along the street in my suit of armour and Mike Loades jumped out and attacked with a stick, just for the record I knocked F### out of him
That's a not the preferred method nowadays as ive seen now many times watching tony on time team or his history docs or any other history shows they've found out in some cases that wearing gloves can do more harm than good your grip is not as good objects can slide through the fingers through lack of friction and you can drop stuff and with books too the gloves they've found out doesn't grip pages as well as bare skin so trying to turn a page of old books was causing more damage than the oils on the fingers . Lol there always someone who tries to tell the expert how it's done lol hahaha
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Make payment with Paypal an option, I don't have a creditcard.
Cousins your more American than you are willing to admit lol ❤
Yes absolutely
If you want a good idea of what kind of king Richard II was both during and after the Revolt, think of Joffrey from Game of Thrones. The rebels' biggest mistake was leaving him alive and ironically, he died in a revolt against him led by his cousin. No one on the top is on the side of those on the bottom. The sooner we all learn that, the better.
Based.
PrinceCanute, yes ~ "power yields nothing without a fight."
All governments are evil and the world is about to take back control. History repeats itself.
Never more relevant than now.
I AGREE! The estimated world population is 7.8 billion. I'm pretty sure the wealthy are very small portion of that number. Imagine if we could organize a new Peasants Revolt.The idea of interrupting the debauchery of the wealthy with a bit of a scare does make me smile.
The lesson here is that commoners shouldn't negotiate with tyrants. Just remove them.
Not really. They should behave better to avoid giving cause to authorities to kill them. Also to make demands that are more reasonable and don’t make the king look weak. If they killed the king they just untie the hands of all of the subservient to kill all of them.
@@StopFear I have no objection to having all tyrants meet a bloody end.
@@StopFear you are extremely naive.
To become but tyrants their ´effin’ selves....Right has no right without a vain of humility, damn it! - Then get some!
The deciding factor for me is how the word ‘tyrants’ is defined. It seems to be used very loosely in the States these days by both “sides”. Which is not a good thing. Since actual tyrants need removing……agreement on who is a tyrant and who is merely a disliked or unpopular politician is the “rub”.
It is really cool that 600 years later, we still know these people's names. It's amazing. They live on forever by the telling of their tale
Shell Craigmiles .... and footage , what a documentary !!
My Dad's name was Ball, my mother's Baker, and I come from Essex, my sister reckons we are descended from Peasant's Revolt folk, and I wouldn't be surprised. I live in Australia now, but my sister refused to pay the poll tax which Thatcher imposed. I must say, this documentary names places I knew well, we lived in Manningtree.
and we will Remember the names of politicians we all have now in 600 years
because they're not much better then the ones we just watched
Imagine my surprise learning I'm descended from the guy who killed Wat Tyler.
@@TerryCrodgedy and footage...lol
The story of the Peasants' Revolt resonates today, as does the full sermon of John Ball, which I looked up thanks to this program. His words show that the drive of some to exploit others is ever present, and requires constant opposition. I only hope that today we don't make the same mistake of believing that the powerful will actually concede that easily. It's an ongoing struggle.
The Peasants' Revolt depicted in the best possible way! Thanks Tony.
He's a terrific presenter
@@louise-yo7kz Baldric was always smarter than Blackadder...
American bred, born, & raised here.
One of the most enjoyable history docs I’ve ever seen. The locations, writing, editing, all excellent. Not a lot of eyeball roll-worthy melodramatics, a good thing. And I must say, I loved the cheekiness (am I using that word correctly?) of the production. I laughed out loud when the host wandered over & turned off that “genuine” peasant campfire. The bit about sharing the tea treats from the Savoy with the ‘peasants’ in the street was - dare I say it? - really sweet. My amusement dried up when King Richard enacted his reprisals for uprising. I have a nearly 32-year-old son. If he’d behaved this way at 14 (or any age), I’d have tanned his hide! 😛
As an average, middle-aged American I never heard of the Peasant Rebellion in medieval England. It wasn’t covered in school, natch. We Americans are pretty myopic when it comes to history - even the history of the country from which this one derived!
Thank you for uploading. THUMBS UP.
If you are talking about high school, no. The 1381 revolt is too specialized for that. But I did know of it in college.
It's from the BBC
2 years ago it wasn’t so bad to admit that. Now americans are comparable to joe pedo biden 🤮
@@williammorris3303
Not 100% sure what you meant - though I am 99.9% sure that Joe Biden ISN’T A PEDOPHILE.🙄
now, i'm thinking there is a good reason why you "westerners" usually have crappy history classes in your schools, compering to us, eastern europeans. it's not just studying history is not pragmatic enough...
I love this guys approach to history, it is such an interesting format the way they filmed and edit it . It is really brilliantly produced, Narration is this presenter's superpower! It deserves high praise! This is how history should be taught in school!
Hear hear
I have to agree. He has a way of drawing in his audience so that they become part of the re enactment of historical events.
I mean, I don't have a particular interest in old English history, but here I am, watching and learning of the horrors. I hope they show his programs in English schools. He is everything a history teacher should be.
If you enjoy Tony's presentation style, check out the TIME TEAM series of programmes of which he was a key part. I learned a great deal about history from this series which also included a few international sites.
He has plenty of stuff out there he’s staple of British tv. Time team as mentioned, look up Black Adder for a laugh.
"The gate keepers of the Savoy were on the peasant's side." - Turns out everyone hates their boss.
It's amazing how much changes yet it all stays the same.
I love the weapons expert. He's so enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
I've seen him in many shows, especially on Time Team.
Did you now ?
Yep ! Not a guy to mess with !
Odd to hear blues slide guitar as background music for a documentary on 14th century British history...!
Christopher Lyerly. I thought it odd too, but I like blues guitar. Reminds me of Skeleton Key the movie that I. saw a few years ago. I feel in love with a song called "Death Letter" by Johnny Farmer. I'm going to go find it right now.
the Brits were well ahead back then, did you not know they were rocking electric guitars and Marshall Amps LOL . even their armour was kevlar LOL
I know. With a British announcer. It’s very unsettling.
maybe it's supposed to inspire american blacks to revolt? but these days pretty much only white people know anything about blues music!
I thought the same. Delta slide guitar is outlandish to this documentary. Smh.
The visual of these people jumping on the queen's bed is just too perfect. In my mind, there's also a pillow fight or two, eventually culminating in a raucous game of _"The Floor is Lava!"_
I love the stunned look on the guy who gets out of the silver car in front of the Savoy when he sees the horsemen LOL
Wat Tyler seems to have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Yeah... I'm extremely critical of this "leader"
Not really, the king was never on their side.
People fervently believed at that time that the king was God's appointed representative on Earth. They naively assumed that it was only the courtiers that were corrupt and that the King would seek truth, justice and fairness for all man.
The same thing happened when York fell to Robert Aske rebels against Henry 8th . Aske (a trained lawyer) assumed that God's representative King Henry would offer fair justice.
We got the absolute monarch to actually agree to policy reforms, execute the nefarious aristocrats, and make permanent concessions in writing that will ensure our lives are better!
Now kill 'em!
Guess 'Quit while your ahead.' wasn't a saying yet. XD
Wat Tyler sounds like the type who would've just declared himself king in a week or two after taking over.
People never know when to quit
Oh, the irony of watching a documentary about The Peasant's Revolt, interrupted incessantly by adverts for Nestle, banks, and car companies. Gives one a strong desire to start plundering.
Have you treid installing AdBlock...?
'One' would never do that.... I for one as suggested use adblock to avoid temptation to riot due to adverts!!!
no ads here? youtube uk has ads
If Adblock Plus does not help UA-cam UK, I can't help. What about uBlock Origin, doesn't that work, either?
My point is that conditions remain but are blindly tolerated. Using adblock to keep it out of mind only makes that situation even worse.
The fact that there was no looting allowed says much as to the honor and honesty of these people
Really enjoyed this, thanks for uploading. Never trust concessions made by those whose interests are not your own.
The peasants did well with their demands and getting it written into Royal charters. It was the further demands that were their undoing.
@@sampuatisamuel9785 Not even that - Richard the II was buying time for the reinforcements to come -- when they did and surrounded them? Mass murder.
So much for the signed documents and promises... fascism never changes.
@@TheOneAndOnlyZeno You are probably right about that
"The peasants are revolting."
"Oh, they're not that bad."
The old ones are the best!
Or from Mel Brooks' The History of the World Part 1:
Count DeMoney: "Sire, it is said that the peasants are revolting!"
King Louis: "You said it! They stink on ice!"
Your telling me! They stink to high heaven.
@Raymond I prefer the term "homage".
@@gailcbull "It's 'DeMo=NAY!!".
Poor guy in the armor. I guess he pulled the short straw! 😂😂
Would love it if it was Rowan Atkinson...
I thought that too, Tony say's let me have a go at him (with the weapon)
@@Johangv Tony would have hit him harder me thinks.
why not the long straw???????????????????????????
Honestly felt so bad for him, some of the hits he copped surely hurt even with armor on hahahaha
I ❤ Tony Robinson. He focuses on how ordinary people shape history more than anyone else doing Timeline documentaries, and masterfully entertains while he's doing it.✌
Remember that Tony Robinson supported mass immigration and multiculturalism so he's clearly against the British working-class.
@@jamesmoran5192 So ppl are good as long as they share your culture, and came out of their mother's crotch in the right country? You aren't better than an immigrant, and were just lucky to be born where you were.
They demanded a SHRUBBERY!
NEE!
@Andrew Harper Just don't say "it" oh no now I've said it, arrr I said it again, and again!
with a white picket fence
You mean Ní!
Outstanding LMAO!
Thank you to the peasants, for riding up.
Thank you to you Tony, and the experts who relived and explained their footsteps.
May the Government listen to the ordinary folks
☆rising up
Thank you so much for helping to tell history that some would never hear or see.
Gabe Moore ,It really is an interesting insight of what happened in that time,it’s a reality & not a myth of days long past that can be inspirational on the people’s right to a governing body to be aware of the populous & it’s grievances of today as well.(No chopping of heads of course)Lol.
If history was this good in school I would have loved it, so rich our history, and brilliantly told
This is so well done.
If history had been told like this in school I would have learned so much more.
The fatal error of thousands, millions of rebels giving up when your rebel leader has been executed by the status quo . Never be brainwashed by "the cult of personality" or that somehow your "leader" is what holds you together . Every progressive and revolutionary leader of this post modern era will tell you its not about me its about all of us . Never ever think of your top spokespersons as some precious leader who if he capitulates or is murdered , than the cause is lost . And never ever give in to, never believe in, the king or the status quo .
imo the first mistake that people make is not listening to their own hearts to begin with. They easily get swept up in the excitement of movements, like leaves in the wind, but they are not fully committed. To get involved, or not to get involved. Being in alignment (spiritually, mentally, emotionally) with what you are doing is crucial. This principal is also valuable to avoid getting into situations where one can potentially open oneself up to manipulation.
Baldrick you Legend I watched a history doc with a lesser historical man and they wouldn't let him pick up the head, a cunningly executed show I certainly plan on watching more Tony Robinson content
I hope you have followed through on this, and if you haven't found it already I suggest checking out Time Team Classics here on YT they are releaseing full versions of the original Time Team digs shown on C4 back in the day...
"Government can only work if the people are prepared to be governed"
So...you're saying if we all stop paying taxes and march on London we can overthrow the government? I'm in!
You could. But armed police would taser tear gas and pepper spray you with drones then toss you all into solitary on the isle of Wight.
there is a reason london buildings are made of stone, they can't be removed.
What about infrastructure, healthcare, education, the legal system, local security ergo police, national security, prisons, waste, etc all public goods? We need a state... Although we do not need an over bearing monolith..
All we have to do is withhold our labour. That'd be enough.
That is not what I saw. There is no honor from the controlling class, it is all deception and control at all cost. Then when you win you destroy the vermin working humans to keep their children afraid of doing it again because it is hopeless. They split and quartered your mommy and daddy if not impaled them on a pole like the Romans did.
Saying no to the boss at work takes some doing, let alone standing up to a system of oppression that is prepared to torture and mutilate you and your loved ones just for wanting a modicum of equality. Respect. Not wasted, we’re still talking about this and it’s wider impact.
Brilliant documentary, Tony is a gem!
This revolt gave way to the starting point of the âge of discovery as john gantt went to the Iberian peninsula to fight for the Castilian crown and married one of his daughters to the King John I of Portugal. One of the offspring was Henry the Navigator ....
You could continue this history and dig into the overseas implications of this revolt and the direction that it imprinted to some of the non present intervenient but nevertless important ones.
History is Awesome! Awful! Ok, both.
"... dragged out the lawyers and cut their heads off." Sounds like a great idea. Let's hope it catches on....
@Jellybean EXACTLY! All lawyers are "evil", until it's YOUR head about to be chopped off...
@@brentfarvors192 That’s not the point. Law and lawyering is overwhelmingly serves and is in the favor of people already powerful and wealthy.
OP, maybe overstates the case here in their analogy but that point that these lawyers for the powerful are always the bad guys is true.
@@cjaquilino Nowhere in my reply did I suggest otherwise; Only, stating a FACT! Which WAS the POINT of my reply...And, why I specifically posted it!
@@brentfarvors192 Your motivation for that comment was to defend lawyers as a class, my best guess.
That’s fine. OP overstated their case but what I think they meant was lawyers generally are not the good guys in many cases. So “off with their heads”.
It’s not a big deal. Just pointing that out.
@@cjaquilino I neither insinuated a "motive", nor had one; I posted the comment because it's the TRUTH! Nothing more, nor less than the truth! No where did I either support the law profession, OR vilify it! If YOU are accused of a crime you didn't commit, the FIRST PERSON you will want is a LAWYER! Period. End of statement!
Lick your fingers, hand out cake, lick fingers, hand out cake. Authentic 1380s Etiquette.
Not to mention he was serving out of a riding helmet that he'd just taken off his head and was probably loaded with sweat.
It's a British thing, it would be rude not to lick your fingers before handing out food.
@@Pfsif It's an important tradition from our British ancestors that is carried on here in Australia, though the container is not always a sweaty riding helmet as not so many of us ride these days.
its ok hes used to sharing a crack pipe with people
@@marieravening927 Ohhhhhh , an "important" tradition !!!! ,ahhhhhhhhh I didn't know that ,well I suppose that makes it ok then lol
This account leaves out a great deal of relevant historical context. The revolt occurred shortly after the Great Plague of 1345-51, when about a third of the English population died. The "aftershocks" of the plague were still continuing and taking even more lives. It is estimated that by 1400 the population of England had declined by 50 percent. This disaster did not create despair in the population, however. Instead, it seemed to spark a powerful desire by the survivors to better their lot. The peasants could not bring back any of their loved ones who had died in the disaster. So many of them focused on how they could better their lot and that of their surviving children and grandchildren in other ways. Rebelling against centuries of social injustice was one way of doing this. It also was a way of overcoming the terrible feelings of hopelessness and despair that the plague must have generated. Death in battle was also a more honorable way to die in the medieval mind than succumbing helplessly to a terrible illness that no one except God could do anything about. But it was still possible to fight back against injustice inflicted by other people. The peasants had always been active, robust people. Simply being passive in the face of the terrible natural disaster was not an acceptable option for them. So they concentrated on doing what they could to improve their lot in other ways.
They mentioned the plague in Part One.
They did mention the plague in part one, but your reflections as to the psychological effects on the survivors offers an added dimension and food for thought. Thanks.
Remember when Mike Loades refers to reaping the corn,in England,corn has been an old time word for grain. No maize corn in England till well after Columbus. Confusion over usage of the word has been an issue for a very long time.
paul manson just like how apple used to mean any fruit and girl used to be used instead of child.
It's old English *old* English.
No txt language of millions genders in the 14th century. Back when men where allowed to be men, and women knew how to take responsibility.
Paul Manson,that explains something I read in a fiction novel that took place in the early 15th century There was a mention of a horse that was fed corn instead of grass and the man who mentioned it thought that it was outrageously expensive and not necessary.I had thought the horse was eating actual corn which could've been used to feed people
Probably from the scandinavian word korn one type of grain, vete, korn, havre, råg all names of difrent types of grain in scandinavia. The vikings really destroyed some parts of the English language you use a large number of scandinavian words daily in Great Britain to day.
Yes, you are all correct. But, 'Merica took corn and put it to concrete slurry as well, so... seperate common language?
Quiet Dignity and Grace What are you talking about ?
Inspiring for any group of exploited people.
Little has changed in terms of the suppression of individuals and the social divide between the aristocracy and the rest. The aristocracy cling on to power and privilege by keeping the rest divided and misinformed. Change requires unity and clear organisation.
Lol
That was starting to happen in 2012/2013 with the occupy Wallstreet movement but the elites successfully divided the populous before the movement got to much momentum.
I'm left wondering what would have happened if Tyler had not made more demands to Richard II. RII had after all organised his monks to draw up the original demands once they were back at the "wardrobe" - abolish serfdom etc. But then Tyler made more demands and then things turned against the revolt.
LOL many thanks to my chief editor Cynthia n/a - amendments made.
Or if they had instead filled the little 14 year old traitor punk with about 500 arrows!
It wasn't Tyler's extra demands. Richard, and the nobles around him, had no intention whatever of keeping his word. Along with the rebels, the copies of the so-called charter were
hunted down and destroyed. Richard sent an emissary to the Pope to get absolution from the oath he took(you could get released from anything you did if you sent the Pope a big
enough bribe. As long as it didn't offend the Church). His statement to the peasants was "Serfs were you born, serfs will you remain!", and he made the laws that bound the serfs to
the land even stricter. Richard II was one of the WORST English kings ever
@@mikegrossberg8624
That's some stiff competition, what are the measuring for bad monarchs? Bad for their own system or bad for the masses over whom they tread?
@@mikegrossberg8624
That's entirely untrue. He was forced into revoking his oath by the real rulers, his uncles who took control of the realm - and the young king - during his minority. He spent his entire reign trying to wrest power from them. See my previous comment. He was a tragic king, but not a bad one, and he remained generally popular among his subjects. His enemies wrote most of the accounts of his reign, and they had a vested interest in slandering the memory of the king who they'd deposed and murdered. His comment "Serfs you were born, serfs you will remain", if it is genuine, can be seen as a bitter statement of defeat. The system was too strong, the power of the aristocracy too absolute at that time, for any prospect of change. Yet change did come, gradually as the country prospered during Richard's later reign and in the following century. The peasants were able to demand better wages and conditions as the country had a skills shortage, and when the wool trade started to take off there was a boost in living conditions and the middle classes were born. Richard II encouraged literacy and education and the translation of scripture into English, empowering ordinary people. Money saved by halting the war with France was spent on culture and the arts and sciences as well as building projects. Pubs flourished! That's why so many were called The White Hart or the Rising Sun after Richard's royal emblems. The country got back on its feet again after the devastation of the Black Death. Richard II was a complex character and had his faults (what mediaeval monarch didn't!) but was far from being England's "worst king". That honour probably went to King John, though Henry VIII was one of the most brutal.
As an American that loves learning history the stories in this series are awesome to learn about and would make good movies like Braveheart.
Oh please, NO.
If only the Peasants had used their Longbows at Mile End to crush the Kings supporters we'd be living in a different country nowadays.
Careful what you wish for. My own observation is that Britain was among the most fortunate of Europe's many states in how it evolved. #unintendedconsequences
Who knows how for sure how things will have turned out and yes we have had a most fortunate history but the class system that still resonates from Feudalism has a grip on opportunity in the UK. We are far from a meritocracy.
You must be related!
Brian Tyler
Yeah you should find out the true story of the French Revolution. It was one of histories biggest blood baths that spared no one rich or poor. Then in the preceding carnage and mess, in desperation to restore order, the greatest irony it ended up being ruled by Napoleon as it's dictator.
@@roland20002000 Yes, but the French Revolutions had the "usual suspects" behind it.
The little traitor wound up dead later though after being yanked off the throne, so in the end he got his end 18 years later
He was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399.
On September 29, after a series of meetings in the Tower of London, Richard was forced to lay aside his crown. On the following day the king’s statement of abdication was read in Parliament and approved. The assembly also assented to the articles of deposition, because abdication alone, as an act that could be rescinded, was insufficient. When the proceedings were concluded, Richard was taken from the Tower to Leeds and later to Pontefract.
In January 1400 a group of his former courtiers, led by the earl of Salisbury, plotted to restore him to the throne. Their rebellion was crushed, but it convinced Bolingbroke, by now Henry IV, that he could no longer allow Richard to live. Sometime in February the former king was put to death; by what means is not known.
In his history Hume notes the accepted opinion that Richard was murdered by Sir Pierce Exton at Pomfret Castle in 1400, but his conclusion is that Richard probably died of hunger rather than from execution by Exton. "Historians differ," Hume says, "with regard to the manner in which he was murdered."
It was long the prevailing opinion, that Sir Piers Exton, and others of his guard, fell upon him the Castle of Pomfret, where he was confined, and despatched him with their halberts. But it is more probable that he was starved to death in prison; and after all sustenance was denied him, he prolonged his unhappy life, it is said, for a fortnight, before he reached the end of his miseries. This account is more consistent with the story, that his body was exposed in public, and that no marks of violence were observed upon it. He died in the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the twenty-third of his reign.
Wow! Quite an unhappy end to a King who had shown such promise. Perhaps it was poetic justice or it was the Nobles who got back at him for letting the revolt occur in the first place!
So no cake for him then
It says a lot that this is, I think, the only British king whose time and mode of death are essentially unknown.
The most maligned king in British history. This brave 14 year old had no power to grant the rebels' demands but was entirely controlled by the lords who actually ruled the country during Richard's minority. He wished to negotiate and grant some concessions, but was prevented from doing so and was forced to go back on his word, and was also forced to watch the executions. At the age of 21 he was still denied power and had to insist on his right to rule - yet was opposed on every front by these barons who would not surrender their powers. Once he eventually took some control he angered them by pausing the 100 years war with France, commanding that English be the official language of the court, and encouraging reforms in religious matters (his adored wife Anne was from Bohemia where reforming ideas were popular). He was the first king since the Norman Conquest to speak English as a first language. He wrote the first English cookery book ("The Form of Cury"). He is said to have invented the handkerchief. He banned the trying of "witches" and upheld the tradition of sanctuary against moves to abolish it. He was a tremendous patron of the arts, promoting and supporting Geoffrey Chaucer and the great architect William of Wykeham who redesigned Westminster Abbey and the wonderful nave of Winchester Cathedral. In his reign English music, art and literature flourished as never before. After his wife died suddenly he was grief stricken and furious with the barons who had disrespected her and opposed her influence, and he memorably took a savage revenge, seizing and executing the worst of the tyrants. In the final years of his reign he consolidated his power and tried to rule absolutely, not trusting advisers, and for this his enemies who eventually deposed him and wrote the official chronicles labelled him a tyrant. Yet Richard II remained generally popular, especially in the provinces, which he visited frequently. He was especially popular on the Welsh Borders where he was affectionately known as "Diccon". He took his White Hart badge from the white deer who roamed the great forest of Gwent, where he liked to hunt.
Unfortunately he and Anne had no children, so he named his nephew Harry of Monmouth, son of his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, as his heir. The teenage Harry went on campaign with his uncle Richard in Ireland and greatly admired him. But while they were out of the country Bolingbroke organised a plot among disaffected aristocracy to capture the king on his return. This was done, and King Richard was deposed in 1399 at the age of 33, and Bolingbroke seized the throne as Henry IV. His son never forgave him and hated his father (who really was a tyrant), becoming Henry V when his father died. Richard II was imprisoned and almost certainly starved to death - certainly murdered. His supporters never accepted the coup, constantly fomented rebellion, and eventually became the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses that kicked off after the untimely death of the young Henry V. But it was Bolingbroke's faction (including the French historian Froissart) who wrote the histories that Shakespeare drew on and subsequent ages accepted uncritically.
So maybe it isn't surprising that the biased and distorted view of this king has prevailed and is still trotted out in almost all histories. Interestingly Terry Jones of Monty Python fame was a fan of Richard II and tried to rehabilitate him. He was not a strong ruler - he wasn't allowed to be by the oligarchy that clung to power for much of his reign - but he was a sincere, brave and honest and possibly a rather naive one, who seems to have been traumatised by his humiliating treatment at the hands of his scheming uncles. He was in real danger at Smithfield at the hands of the rebels, and had been abandoned by the unprepared court. He knew he, at 14, would have to try to save the day somehow, and he probably had some sympathy for the rebels (though Wat Tyler was certainly a thug). He was made to pay for this afterwards. Those were harsh times.
Just setting the record straight!
@@aelbereth6690 interesting, thanks
Thank you! Totally inspiring; fair tax, fair rents and regional police forces and we are still waiting!
Mr. Tony Robinson makes these documentaries a lot more intriguing. Thank you
Two thing that are still spoke of in the same sentence , Mayor of London and stabbing.
BAAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAAA LMAO ROFL !! :D :D LOLS : D
Not much of a change
This series should be called:
An Afternoon of Revolution,
With tea...
At the Savoy.
Thanks for the documentary. I had no knowledge of the Peasants' Revolt. I was wondering about the extent that the political and social landscape traces back to the Norman Conquest. Were the aristocracy largely descended from the Normans and the peasants from the Anglo-Saxons? Anyway, I find it interesting that the peasants were looking to reform the government, not replace the aristocracy with their leaders, which shows considerable sensitivity about the structure of government versus personal ambition. Replacing one set of rulers with another doesn't improve the peasant's lot. Maybe another lesson is to know a good deal when you get it and not sacrifice it for an unattainable ideal.
Yes, the aristocracy were mainly descended from the Normans who siezed most of the land, and killed or disposesed most English landowners.
I think the lesson is that they should have been more ambitious! John Ball would have made an amazing ruler, if he'd had the ambition.
I am no expert, but they did want to reform the nature of Gov't completely, except for the King. They wanted common law, and local law enforcement. The end of aristrocracy was their goal. The freedom these people wanted did not die with their revolt. The ability to achieve their end is another matter I'm not prepared to address. Being an American we like to think that we broke with the old traditions of ruling elites... Now we find ourselves on the verge of another terrible reign of oppression that seeks to change even our nature as human beings... For those of us who survive their death shots... Organization is very difficult in a total surveillance state. It is well that we fight now, and not wait until it gets worse !
Indeed; it was only the hardliners who made up a tiny majority (less than a percent) who demanded an end to the aristocracy, because that was completely alien to the people of the time. Most of them wanted only freedom and fair treatment, not a complete restructuring of the social order.
Watching this at the New Year of 2021 is an awesome experience. There are so many parallels today. I’m curious about the next year.
Just 25 to 30 generations before us - how close is that. Meanwhile a great documentary and a great story.
Thanks so much for the history lesson Professor Baldrick. Excellent!
They got into beating on their knight. By the time the flail showed up, he must have been wondering if he got paid near enough!
Help, Help!! I'm being exploited!!
At last someone defended poor Baldrick....and it's Tony Robinson. But seriously once again excellent documentary!
The Yellow Jackets in Paris ... When people are fed up and have nothing to loose, when elections dont change anything, when people dont have any money left do do something else during their weekends, except attacking the symbols of their claims : the luxury shops on The Champs Elysées, where any lady's handbag is worth at least twice the minimum legal wage, and up. And the repression is escalading, simply because it is has to match in intensity the people's genuine demand for respect and social decency. That was clearly coming and there is a clear common cause between 1381 and 2019. I mostly agree with this documentary conclusion : people need/ask to be governed, but not at any cost.
Élections dont change anything because YOU VOTE FOR THE RULING CLASSES!
My late Grandmother was born in Rotherhythe in March, 1898.
'Tis passing strange for me to realise that she was born on-or-near one of the most important sites in the long and storied history of the evolution of Democracy in the (now) United Kingdom.
Kind and Respectful Regards, Tony Robinson and Team, Uyraell, Wellington, New Zealand.
The was fun to watch ....... It's time for another Revolution.
Yeah! Time for more bloodshed!
Garvey #1 another settlement needs our help
Gotta love the ample application of beard dye on slick Tonys soul patch
'The violence that they meted out in the Peasant's Revolt is unlike anything that there's been in London in my lifetime' - Drummer Lee Rigby would probably disagree with that, as would the victims of the almost daily stabbings, Tony.
At first i thought, well, lets watch it on the split screen. work on the other half..... But than i was fascinated how Tony Robinson talks, runs around, arms working like windmills... his team, cameraman, sound man, they must have been exhausted by the end of the day? i actually stopped working, turned to full screen and watched right to the end. - chapeau -.
Could this happen again ? Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
Oh, yes. Just imagine what can happen in several states, when people realize they have been tricked by their "Oh, Great Leader".....
11:54 did he just suck on his finger, and straight away picked up another piece for the other random bloke?
Yas. Its a british thing. Idk what it is because im asian but when i went to primary school in manchester, the teacher always did that before handing out sheets of paper so i asked and apparently it was normal so -_-
oh right thanks idk why
Some people wet their finger tip for paper but definitely not when handing out food lol
@@erin5553 its certainly not a british thing at all. Im British and dont know anyone who would do that. Its bloody revolting. To say its a british thing is unbelievably stupid. Do you think the british dont know about manners or need lessons from asia? Dream on. Robinson is one man who happens to have revolting habits. Dont go assuming we are all like that.
@@erin5553 yes but you dont eat pieces of paper. Thats to seperate the paper and is totally different to liking your fingers before handing out food.
The rebels dragged out the lawyers from the courts and cut their heads off? BOOOOOHOOOOBOOO! My heart bleeds. Think I'll have another glass of chilled Chablis.
this is one of the best history programmes
3:11 I feel a bit sorry to the knight model..
Little Sunflower
"If your profile pic is anime then you get no opinion"
The guy in the armor looks like an "Empire" storm trooper in a "Star Wars" film, except more "metallic" and less "plastic". Obviously "evil", though, whether it be the 14th or the 21st Century.
Yeah, I don't think he was expecting Tony to start having a go.
I've always loved history and science. And what this program does is reinforce that feeling ten fold. You folks turn history into contemporary knowledge. In essence you erase time.
Rise up working class! Down with elitism.
Interesting topic but thumbs down for ads every 6 minutes.
Work is the curse of the drinking classes....
Tried AdBlock, BTW...?
Don't like ads but you do like free UA-cam. I was just being convinced that peasants weren't stupid then you went there.
Think about it...had the rebellion been successful the ads would have been worse !!
🤣🤣
Relevant to this day and age as it ever has been.
THE PEASANT’S REVOLT of 1381 (half the country was involved in the revolt) : The 4 Demands by the peasants to the King : 1) End to bonded labor 2) Freedom to trade as they wanted. 3) Charge of 4 pence an acre for land rent across the nation. 4) No punishments for participating in the revolt. The King concedes. They required written verification called Charters of Freedom, one for every village representative.
So you're telling me people in the 14th century were like real humans, capable of complex thoughts? They weren't the same as mindless animals? Wow, what a revelation.
> sarcasm off
Television.
Lol. I was thinking that too. To be fair - I think Tony Robinson's point was just that we shouldn't believe cliches. I remember an American archaeologist in Egypt saying in a doco that when she uncovered a mummified body it was the first time she realised these people were "almost human, like us".
Psychologists are off the opinion that people have been getting more stupid since the 12th century.
No sarcasm.
@@Kitiwake Settings aside the 'psychological replication crisis', I only recently learnt human brains are 20% smaller than 20,000 years ago. This might have something to do with domestication, since the same thing happens with dogs compared to wolves (and wolves are better problem solvers than dogs).
@@patrickpaganini That statement right there pretty much sums it up doesn't it.
I admire what I offer and love old history and monuments
Finally!!! The best way of disbarring corrupt lawyers I’ve ever heard!!!
Time is coming when history will repeat if the self appointed dont catch on soon.
Mike Loads is such a boss
Absolutely!
Love the way they teach history.
"Low lifes like Richard Scott" The very cheek! Thats my name ;)
Boo! **Throws rotten cabbage**
What are the chances lol
you created this profile on purpose
You low life you..
Got any dice?
Thanks Tony for this video and yes it just goes to show what the middle ages was like and how very cleaverly they planned this kind of revolt in those days again thank you Tony for an interesting video.😊
If some one has taken your things - Don't trust them! Any questions!
love sir Tony, "Ive booked in for a cup of tea!" on horseback. Surely he should be next in line for the throne.
Better than Charles anyway!
Do you really think society has changed, with the Monarchy, Nobility and aristocracy still regarding us as peasants and lording it over us 640 years later?
ouch....8 blows.... I think the executioner was missing on purpose.
Most likely used n axe, that's why Anne Bolyn asked for a sword, and why it was considered an act of kindness in old Scandinavia to dispose of a rebelious slave with a sword rather than to beat them to death, hang or use an axe.
Obviously this was a joke, but just an FYI, an executioner's axe, in those days, not to mention any other potential beheading weapons, were not sharpened, and thus were quite dull. Even cutting through a human, bone is very tough and dulls the blade. As the former replier stated, death by blade was a blessing, as they were often sharpened and required less 'chopping'.
@@StratospheralNurse And highly skilled to get you when you're not expecting the strike. Making a sound on the left and quietly leaping to the right with a very powerful and swift strike perfectly aimed at the back of the neck. That's what Ann Bolyn got. I hear that your mind still is alert for 2 minutes.
@@raquellofstedt9713 Did she ask for it? I'd heard it was arranged by Henry VIII, as a"kindness" to his former beloved. A French dude, iirc.
They relied on the left weight to do the deed. They didn't give a frappe many swings it took one way or the other
Who'd have thought 700 years later We, The People would have do it all over again!!!
Have a nice day now - Comrades.....
An excellent two-parter (and how Tony Robinson must have enjoyed making it!)
Surely they regretted not wiping the King and his men out when they had the chance
I'm not entirely sure that they were ever prepared to do that. As that "benevolent dictator" Napoleon so aptly put it:
"Religion is what keeps the Poor from Killing the Rich." As true today as then.
Moral of the story: Always kill the king when you have the chance.
Been tried.
The Brits then scoured Europe trying to find somebody they could tug their forelocks to a few years later.
Robespierre got it right !!
No white gloves while handling that Valuable Antique Head? A useful Relic, Alas Poor Tax Collector, I knew you well! What Opinion of He you served, would you now Tell? Abandoned to die, by a ill swung Sword, No Hero's Grave, just this Dark Cupboard! So delightfully Tragic!
Love love love
I would love to see a forensic anthropologist do a facial reconstruction of that skull so we could see his actual face from so very long ago.
@@JerryEricsson there is a facial reconstruction of the skull.. search the tax man his name "simon of sudbury" and you will see his real face on google
Fascinating, and often overlooked in discussing modern revolution.
Can you imagine what would have happened if Wat Tyler had just kept his mouth shut?
The same exact thing...The king would have pretended to concede; Waited until the crowds dispersed, Called in reserves, and hunted them down like wolves...Their ONLY OPTION to keep their heads, was to kill the king, AND his men...
Who's watching this during the Rona shitshow and believes this needs to happen again on a worldwide scale...?!?
@12:09 The guy in back is like, "Where's my cake?"
Or more like... urgh licking your fingers before handing out those cakes is gross
I like the idea that Mike Loades just stands around on street corners dressing random people in armour.
Some things never change, we're still being taxed to death, waiting for another Thomas the baker.
This video also explains why the UK is so anti gun. They want the peasants unarmed.
good point and good lesson for usa right now, dont give up the 2nd amendment no matter what!
The UK taxes people into poverty and submission.
Jim, everything is comparative. This information may not change your views on tax or guns but the USA is actually one of the lowest taxing countries in the international Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, being 30th out of 37 nations in 2019. I'm not sure how US taxation might go much lower without compromising essential public services and public infrastructure. The shamefully high rate of US poverty (5th highest in the OECD) is not caused by high taxation. Contrary to the myth of the American Dream, it's caused by inequality of opportunity, poverty-creating unskilled wages, and extraordinary disadvantage amongst those who cannot work, notably the elderly. And regarding guns, it's actually the public majority, not governments, in both the UK and Australia who don't want the guns. We see the bloody gun carnage that happens in the USA and say no to that insanity. The American War of Independence ended over 200 years ago. It's long past the time to stand down and stop slaughtering each other.
@@joejones9520 they will have to kill over 100 mill. of us gun owners to do it. we will never give up our right to own guns and the right to defend our self's.
@@peterevans5881 you know nothing of our United States Constitution and Bill of Rights then. Our right to own guns is for defense and to keep the government in check. the US fought that war against a empire that wanted to control people. our founders knew the best defense is a armed populace against a government that might put into thought of total control of its people just as freedom of speech also does. but you can not defend your self with words against a army. as for the so called gun carnage . the US rates very well per 100,00 , all this so called gun carnage is in gun free zones hhhhmmm go figure. matter of fact our highest murder rates are in cities where all fire arms are banned. criminals do not follow the law, leaving unarmed people to die for false safety.
One of the best videos I've ever seen, kudos to the makers! I hope that you were reasonably taxed for the rights to make the film :)
I would suggest that the peoples from back then were actually 'smarter' about these issues than the people today... for back then, people did not have much else to do than work and discuss the difficulties in life... yes, today people have greater access to information... and more methods of communication... but today... the world is so much more complex... and for the most part, today's issues aren't life and death struggles... back then... as we see from these stories... death is a pretty regular event... and very little concern was given to other people's welfare.
The world, all of it, ran by "right of conquest". Sour grapes over losing is what it is, but "right" and "wrong" are subjective and do not exist in nature.
But they do in human nature, even if their content is not fixed. That's one cynical but probably largely correct view of things, Ob. Fortunately, it is not the whole view, and life would not have survived without optimism and some measure of fairness.
Just let them have their alcohol, iPhone and McDonalds.
Sounds like what needs to happen in the U.S. today
Treacherous Richard certainly got his come-uppance when he visited sunny Pontefract in 1399!
that's a long time to wait for justice
b. griffin - it was indeed. I used to live there, and he couldn't have chosen a grimmer place to die!
Wasn't he starved to death? Not a fun way to go, sic semper tyrannis.
Yep!
@@2HRTS1LOVE
Either that or Henry IV had him killed.
last week i was walking along the street in my suit of armour and Mike Loades jumped out and attacked with a stick, just for the record I knocked F### out of him
Really poor choice of music when trying to build image in my head
sukisuzuki10 Sounds like the same music they use in “The Deadliest Catch”.
We need another peasant's revolt NOW!
Always wear gloves when handling a valuable artifact.
That's a not the preferred method nowadays as ive seen now many times watching tony on time team or his history docs or any other history shows they've found out in some cases that wearing gloves can do more harm than good your grip is not as good objects can slide through the fingers through lack of friction and you can drop stuff and with books too the gloves they've found out doesn't grip pages as well as bare skin so trying to turn a page of old books was causing more damage than the oils on the fingers .
Lol there always someone who tries to tell the expert how it's done lol hahaha
Love the march into London and the commoners' reactions! 7:00
With names like house of commons and house of lords it sounds like feudalism still need revolt.
Learn why it is called the House of Commons. Then look to today's parliament and see that it is actually that, full of commoners.
The information contained in this documentary is amazing. I did find it funny that they used a few bits of music from "The Stand," to accompany it.
Advisor: "The peasants are revolting!" King: "They certainly are!" - from The Wizard of Id