Wat Tyler

Family: rebels · Role: principal commander · First appears: Book 2, Chapter 3

In 1381, Wat Tyler met John Ball and Jack Straw at Canterbury, where the leaders resolved to march on London and call support from other counties. Tyler was the principal commander as the rebels entered London; they demolished the Marshalsea and freed its prisoners, burned the Savoy, and demanded concessions from King Richard. Tyler ordered the beheading of Richard Lyon, to whom he had formerly been a servant in France.

The rebels later forced their way into the Tower and seized Simon, whose head, with those of three other victims including John Laige, was displayed on London Bridge. Tyler and the other leaders remained in London with more than thirty thousand supporters, and the rebels gathered at Smithfield with plans to pillage the city. Tyler ordered his men to kill everyone but the king at his signal, telling John Ticle, “thou shalt be well paid this day.” Sir William Walworth struck him down, and Sir John Standwich stabbed him, killing him.