BattlefieldsPeasants' Revolt — Mile End
Medieval

Peasants' Revolt — Mile End

1381
Middlesex, England
Also known as: Mile End meeting 1381
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Middlesex, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royal authority
Forces
Royal garrison (Tower): c.200–400.
VS
Victor
Rebels (temporarily)
Forces
Rebels: c.10,000–20,000
Outcome
Richard II granted charters of manumission; Tower of London seized
The Battle

History & Significance

While Richard II met rebels at Mile End and granted their demands, another group seized the Tower of London and murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Treasurer. The simultaneous events showed how close England came to revolution. The Mile End concessions were subsequently repudiated — "villeins ye are, and villeins ye shall remain" — but the revolt had revealed the fragility of feudal authority.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Middlesex

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Middlesex