One of the most anticipated and debated historical films of 2026, The Uprising has generated discussion for both its subject matter and its marketing, while introducing a new audience to the dramatic events of 1381, when thousands of ordinary people challenged royal authority in what became England's largest popular revolt before the Civil War.

The revolt began in Essex amid widespread anger over taxation and government policies, before spreading rapidly through Kent and beyond. Led by figures such as Wat Tyler, rebels marched on London, confronted the young King Richard II, and demanded sweeping political and social change, including an end to serfdom. Contemporary accounts reveal a movement driven not only by resentment over the poll tax, but also by deeper concerns about justice, governance, freedom and opportunity.

The HA has explored this remarkable story in a variety of ways over recent years. Our recorded webinar, The People of 1381, produced alongside an HA Teacher Fellowship and the AHRC-funded research project of the same name, shifts the focus away from famous leaders to the thousands of individuals who took part. Drawing on newly uncovered evidence, historians Adrian Bell, Helen Lacey and Helen Killick examine who joined the revolt, what motivated them, and what became of them afterwards.

For teachers and students, our long-standing pamphlet resource The Great Revolt of 1381 offers valuable context on the causes, course and consequences of the rebellion. Written by historian E. B. Fryde in 1981, it explores everything from the unpopular poll tax and demands for reform to the wider social and economic pressures that helped to fuel the uprising. The pamphlet also highlights how the events of 1381 helped accelerate longer-term changes in medieval society, particularly the gradual decline of serfdom.

Whether you are intrigued by the forthcoming film or keen to explore the history behind it, the HA's resources provide an opportunity to discover the real stories, people and debates that continue to make 1381 such a compelling moment in England's past.