Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday 18 June 2021

The Peasants Revolt - the latest research


Following on from my previous post the History Extra website has an article by the same group of academics who are engaged in the study of the prosopography of the Peasants Revolt of 1381 and who spoke online about the events in London 650 years ago. This feature gives many fascinating insights into the lives and possible motivations of the rebels, and of the way the movement spread. 

The article also has links to other features on the uprising and similarly available to subscribers. It can be seen at Revealed: the true identity of the rebels of the Peasants' Revolt

Other relevant articles on the Revolt from History Extra which describe its progress are Your guide to the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and Why did the peasants really revolt? which in particular looks at the causes

A 2014 article from the same website by Juliet Barker that looks at the part played by King Richard II can be read at The Peasants’ Revolt: did Richard II side with the rebels?

This question of where King Richard’s sympathies lay is a much debated point, and I am not sure if I entirely agree with the author as to the young King’s attitude, but it is very well worth reading.


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