Was the Revolt a Threat to the King's Power?
History: KS3, topic 7.4.2
Was the Revolt a Threat to the King's power?
Although the Revolt threatened the King's military power, it didn't threaten him personally. The rebels were still loyal to the King.
Yes- armed opposition
- The rebels formed an army of more than 60,000 men who marched to London to confront the King.
- They were directly opposing the King's power to raise the Poll Tax through parliament.
Yes- no more foreign wars
- Part of the King's power was based on military ability.
- The Peasants' Revolt indirectly threatened the King's power as a successful war leader.
- Without the funds from Poll Tax, King Richard had to scale back the fighting in France and negotiate for peace.
No- no personal threat
- The Peasants' Revolt posed no threat to King Richard personally.
- The rebels made their loyalty to him as monarch clear. E.g. John Ball's speech at Blackheath.
- When Wat Tyler was killed, the rebels didn't attack. They peacefully followed the King away and went home.
No- they weren't protesting the King himself
- The rebels marched to London to protest for a better life and to complain about the actions of some of King Richard's advisors, not the King himself.
- They were prepared to negotiate with Richard, as long as he took them seriously.
- There was never a threat to Richard's crown.
Test yourself on Was the Revolt a Threat to the King's Power?
How many men were in the army formed by the peasants?
King Richard's military power was threatened by his withdrawal from a war: which was this?
Why was the Peasants' Revolt NOT a personal threat to King Richard?