The 1381 Peasants' Revolt: When England's Commoners Stormed London

The 1381 Peasants Revolt: Wat Tyler and the Burning of London

In June 1381, tens of thousands of English peasants and townspeople marched on London, seizing the Tower, executing the Archbishop of Canterbury, and forcing the teenage King Richard II to meet their demands. This episode follows the revolt from its origins in the poll tax rebellion of Essex and Kent, through the dramatic events at Blackheath and Mile End, to the bloody confrontation at Smithfield where Wat Tyler was struck down. We explore the role of the radical preacher John Ball, whose 'When Adam delved and Eve span' sermon challenged social hierarchy, and the complex figure of Wat Tyler himself — a former soldier and presumed leader of the Kentish rebels. We also consider the aftermath: the savage reprisals led by the king's justices, the parliament's repudiation of the promised charters, and the long shadow the revolt cast on English social relations. Drawing on chronicles by Thomas Walsingham, the Anonimalle Chronicle, and Jean Froissart, we piece together a vivid, grounded account of a week that nearly toppled the ruling order. #PeasantsRevolt #WatTyler #JohnBall #RichardII #PollTax #Smithfield #Blackheath #MileEnd #TowerOfLondon #AnonimalleChronicle #ThomasWalsingham #Froissart #Kent #Essex #1381 #MedievalEngland #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1349 St George's Day Massacre: Jewish Communities of Strasbourg

In February 1349, as the Black Death swept through Europe, the entire Jewish community of Strasbourg was burned alive on a massive pyre in their own cemetery. This episode examines the St. George's Day Massacre, exploring how plague panic, economic resentment, and political maneuvering turned neighbors into murderers. We follow the role of the guilds, the failed protection by city officials, and the Emperor Charles IV's cynical revocation of Jewish charters. We also contrast Strasbourg with other towns like Basel and Freiburg, where different outcomes emerged. The episode includes voices from the Nuremberg Memorbuch and contemporary chroniclers like Jacob von Königshofen, who tried to defend the Jews. A grim but essential look at how societies fracture under fear. #Strasbourg #JewishHistory #BlackDeath #MedievalEurope #Pogrom #StGeorgesDay #1349 #JacobvonKönigshofen #NurembergMemorbuch #CharlesIV #HolyRomanEmpire #Guilds #Plague #Persecution #AlsatianHistory #MedievalCrime #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1358 Jacquerie: France's Brutal Peasant Uprising

In 1358, as the Hundred Years' War ravaged France and the king was captive in England, the peasantry of the Île-de-France rose in a desperate, violent revolt known as the Jacquerie. Spurred by noble failures and crushing taxes, they burned castles and killed lords. The uprising was met with savage reprisals led by nobleman Charles the Bad of Navarre. This episode explores the causes, key events, and brutal suppression of the Jacquerie, focusing on figures like Guillaume Cale and Étienne Marcel. We examine how the revolt reflected broader social tensions, the role of the Parisian merchant class, and why the term 'Jacquerie' became synonymous with peasant rebellion. Specific locations include the villages of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent and the Battle of Mello. #Jacquerie #PeasantRevolt #HundredYearsWar #France1358 #GuillaumeCale #ÉtienneMarcel #CharlesTheBad #SaintLeu #Mello #MedievalFrance #PeasantUprising #Feudalism #SocialHistory #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalEurope #Revolt #KingJohnII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1241 Battle of Liegnitz: Mongols vs European Knights

In 1241, a Mongol army under Baidar and Kadan swept through Poland, meeting a combined force of European knights at the Battle of Liegnitz (Legnica). Lucas and Luna examine the strategies, the sudden withdrawal after victory, and the legacy of the encounter. They discuss Henry II the Pious, Duke of Silesia, the coordination (or lack thereof) between European rulers, and the enduring myth of Mongol conquest halted by a timely death. The episode also touches on the cultural shockwaves from the invasion, including the famous forged letter from the Duke of Prussia and the legend of the poisoned wells. #BattleOfLiegnitz #Legnica #MongolInvasion #HenryIIthePious #Baidar #Kadan #Subutai #Wahlstatt #1241 #Poland #Silesia #TeutonicKnights #Templars #EuropeanKnights #MedievalWarfare #History #FexingoHistory #MongolEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota: Portugal's Independence

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota, a decisive clash that secured Portugal's independence from Castile. They explore the lead-up to the battle, including the 1383-85 succession crisis, the role of John of Aviz, and the military tactics that allowed a smaller Portuguese-English force to defeat a larger Castilian army. They discuss the use of the longbow, the strategic genius of Nuno Álvares Pereira, and the aftermath that led to the Treaty of Windsor. The conversation also touches on the legend of the bakeress of Aljubarrota and the symbolic importance of the battle in Portuguese national identity. Hosts examine the political maneuvering, the English alliance, and how the battle reshaped the Iberian Peninsula. Specific terms include John I of Portugal, John I of Castile, Avis, Nuno Álvares Pereira, Treaty of Windsor, and the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. #Aljubarrota #BattleOfAljubarrota #Portugal #Castile #JohnOfAviz #NunoÁlvaresPereira #Longbow #1385 #TreatyOfWindsor #AngloPortugueseAlliance #HundredYearsWar #Medieval #IberianPeninsula #WarOfTheTwoPeters #FernandineWars #Avis #PortugueseHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]