The Great Peasant Revolt

During The Great Peasant Revolt they marched on London, historically they did march on London but the damage they did wasn't significant.

What if when he marched they completely destroyed London, it forced the capital to move to another city permanently? What sortof change would this have?

Also not sure if this should be in ASB forum but ill post it here since it is before 1900
 
The second part probably is ASB. When you look at important citiues, the physical buildings play the least part of their significance. London is a wonderfully located port for access to the richest, most fertiole parts of England, and by the 14th century it has an established community of artisans and merchants who don't want to leave and a favoured legal position. The only way you could stop it freom staying dominant is by continually applying political force, which I can't see as an option with Wat Tyler.

Or reroute the Thames.

A destruction of london will have political repercussions though, especially if they also kill the king. England without Richard II...
 
I don't recall any examples of revolts wasting cities so badly they had to be abandoned. Even when 1/3 of London burned down in 1666 it was just an impetus in the city growing even bigger. Sure, the revolt might loot and pillage the place, but there would have to be a months-long conscious attempt at wiping the city out to achieve that much damage.
 
At least if the entire city is destroyed, the government would have to find another location to govern the country from and that alone can change a lot of things.
 
Thing is, the "government" traveled all over the place anyway. The "government" was wherever the King was at the time and Kings tirelessly traveled - some Kings never stayed in one place longer than a couple of months, even London. European countries were used to being ruled by a court which was constantly moving. London being destroyed would be a massive disaster but wouldn't actually make the government less effective (except of course that the hub of government officials who distributed royal decrees would have to relocate).
 
Top