The Uprising: The real medieval revolt that inspired Andrew Garfield's new film
The Uprising, a medieval drama directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, is set to hit theaters this fall. The film draws its inspiration from the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England.
The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England served as the inspiration for the medieval drama The Uprising, directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield. In the film, the rebels are depicted as fighting against King Richard II's tyranny to secure justice and survival. However, historical records present a different perspective on the rebels' motivations and loyalties.
The uprising was primarily driven by widespread discontent over government corruption, particularly the implementation of unpopular poll taxes raised three times in five years. While medieval chroniclers showed little sympathy for the rebels, the Anonimalle Chronicle reported that the taxation had been improperly collected, disproportionately targeting the poor rather than the wealthy. The rebels aimed to expose and punish the corrupt officials who had mishandled the funds to their own advantage.
Rather than directly blaming King Richard II, the rebels focused their anger on those surrounding him who were perceived as betraying the king and the kingdom. They expressed a desire to save the monarch and eliminate traitors, while also seeking to destroy the Savoy Palace belonging to his uncle, John of Gaunt, and seize key officials like the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chancellor.
The rebels exhibited loyalty to Richard II by kneeling before him at Mile End and requesting his pardon, even though their demands went beyond government corruption and extended to ending serfdom.
The rebels targeted various officials, including beheading the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chancellor, and destroyed legal records and symbols of authority. While King Richard II granted many of the rebels' demands, including proclaiming all men in England as free, the charter was later revoked. Although the uprising was ultimately suppressed and its leaders executed, the revolt marked a turning point in English history, leading to the discontinuation of poll taxes and the decline of serfdom over time.
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