Harelle

The Harelle is a revolt that occurred in the French city of Rouen in 1382 followed by the Maillotins Revolt a few days later in Paris, and numerous other revolts across France in the subsequent week.

France is in the midst of the Hundred Years War, and has seen decades of warfare, widespread destruction, high taxation, and economic decline, made worse by bouts of plague.

In Rouen, the second largest city in the kingdom, the effects of the war are particularly felt.

Tensions have been building nationally for nearly a year following the death of Charles V; on his deathbed he had repealed many of the war taxes he had previously imposed.

With the re-imposition of the taxes months later, a localized revolt led by Rouen's guilds occurs in the city and is followed by many similar such incidents across the kingdom.

Charles VI travels with an army led by his uncle and regent, Philip the Bold Duke of Burgundy, from Paris.

Paris itself revolts shortly after the army leaves the city.

After returning to Paris to deal with the rebels there, the Duke and King travel with an army to Rouen to end the revolt.

The leaders of the Harelle in Rouen fear execution on the scale that occurred in Paris, and resolve to not resist the army.

Twelve leaders of the revolt are executed, the city's rights are revoked and it is put under the rule of a royal governor, and a fine of one hundred thousand francs is imposed.

Despite the victory, the King is unable to re-enforce the taxation that had prompted the revolt, and will spend most of the next two years putting down similar tax revolts around the kingdom that follow the example of Rouen.

The Harelle is one of many popular revolts in late medieval Europe, including the English peasants' revolt of 1381 one year earlier, all part of a larger crisis of the Late Middle Ages.

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