A medieval drama directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, titled The Uprising, is set to debut in cinemas this autumn. The film is inspired by the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 in England, a major uprising against the government. According to the studio’s synopsis, the film portrays the rebellion as a “fight for justice and survival” against the “tyranny of King Richard II.” However, historical records from the time suggest that the rebels were actually loyal to Richard II, not against him. The Anonimalle Chronicle, a 14th-century account written by a likely eyewitness at St Mary’s Abbey in York, noted that the rebels used a watchword: “With whom holds you?” The correct response was “With King Richard and with the true commons,” and those who gave the wrong answer were reportedly executed. The revolt of 1381 was partly driven by widespread dissatisfaction with government corruption. King Richard II inherited the throne at age ten in 1377, and his early reign was managed by his uncle, John of Gaunt, and other royal advisors. The Hundred Years’ War with France was going poorly for England, and the government needed money, leading to the imposition of poll taxes—taxes levied on every person, regardless of wealth. These taxes were raised three times in five years, with the third and final increase in 1381 sparking the uprising. Although medieval chroniclers often criticized the rebels, some, like the Anonimalle Chronicle, noted that the taxes were unfairly collected from the poor rather than the rich. The rebels did not blame the king himself but instead targeted those around him, a common political strategy in medieval England. The rebels had specific targets, including John of Gaunt’s Savoy Palace in London, which they destroyed along with his personal belongings. They also besieged the Tower of London and captured high-ranking officials, including Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Sudbury and Sir Robert Hales, both of whom were blamed for the poll taxes. The rebels even entered the Tower, despite being vastly outnumbered. When King Richard II finally met the rebels at Mile End, the Anonimalle Chronicle reported that they knelt before him and pledged loyalty, saying: “Welcome our lord king Richard, if it pleases you, and we will not have any other king but you.” The rebels also sought to end serfdom, abolish outlawry, and distribute church property among the people. They destroyed legal records and symbols of the legal system, including documents at Lambeth Palace and the Temple Bar. Although the king initially agreed to many of the rebels’ demands, including granting a charter that declared all men in England should be free, the promises were later revoked after the uprising was crushed. Many leaders were executed, including Wat Tyler, a key rebel leader, who was killed by London’s mayor. Despite the suppression, the revolt had lasting effects—poll taxes were discontinued, and serfdom gradually faded. The uprising, though unsuccessful in its immediate goals, marked a significant moment in English history, reflecting the deep frustrations of the peasantry and the beginning of a shift in power dynamics.