Tyler's Insurrection
Preserved but no longer current.
An armed rebellion of peasants in southern England in 1381, led by Wat Tyler (an Essex man), in consequence of discontent aroused by the Statute of Labourers, and the heavy taxation, especially a poll-tax of three groats to defray the expenses of a war with France. Wat Tyler was slain by Sir William Walworth, the Lord Mayor, at Smith- field, the revolt was crushed, and many of the rebels executed.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Tyler's Insurrection” mean?
An armed rebellion of peasants in southern England in 1381, led by Wat Tyler (an Essex man), in consequence of discontent aroused by the Statute of Labourers, and the heavy taxation, especially a poll-tax of three groats to defray the expenses of a war with France. Wat Tyler was slain by Sir William Walworth, the Lord Mayor, at Smith- field, the revolt was crushed, and many of the rebels executed.
Is “Tyler's Insurrection” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.