PEASANTS’ REVOLT

an incident in 1381 when the peasants (= poor farmers) of Kent and Essex marched to Canterbury and then to London to protest at their conditions of life and the harsh taxes they had to pay. They occupied several major buildings, including the Tower of London . The young king, Richard II , talked to their leader, Wat Tyler , and promised to help them. Many of them then went home, but Tyler was killed and the Revolt ended in complete failure, gaining nothing for the peasants.