List of peasant revolts

This is a chronological list of conflicts in which peasants were the driving power.

Background

The Cudgel War was the 16th century peasant uprising in Finland, which was at that time part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Poltettu Kylä (Burned Village), by Albert Edelfelt, 1879

The history of peasant wars spans over two thousand years. A variety of factors fueled the emergence of the peasant revolt phenomenon, including:

Later peasant revolts such as the Telangana Rebellion were also influenced by agrarian socialist ideologies such as Maoism.

The majority of peasant rebellions ended prematurely and were unsuccessful. Peasants suffered from limited funding and lacked the training and organisational capabilities of professional armies.

Chronological list

The list gives the name, the date, the peasant allies and enemies, and the result of these conflicts following this legend:

 Peasant victory
 Peasant defeat
 Another result (e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result unknown or indecisive)
 Ongoing conflict
Date Conflict State Peasants Result Image Ref.
209–206 BC Anti-Qin revolts (including Dazexiang Uprising) Qin dynasty Peasants under several rebel leaders, including Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, Xiang Yu, and Liu Bang Qin dissolution
205–186 BC Great revolt of the Egyptians Ptolemaic Kingdom Native Egyptian peasants and soldiers under secessionist Pharaohs Hugronaphor and Ankhmakis Suppression of the rebellion
17–25 Lülin Xin dynasty Lülin rebels Collapse of Xin dynasty; ascendancy of rebel leader Liu Xiu after infighting among Lülin forces
17–27 Red Eyebrows Xin dynasty Red Eyebrows rebels Goal of the rebellion partially achieved, but eventual defeat of the movement by Liu Xiu
172–173 Bucolic War Roman Empire Egyptian peasants under Isidorus Suppression of the rebellion
184–205 Yellow Turban Rebellion Han dynasty Yellow Turban rebels Suppression of the rebellion, though Han dynasty is severely weakened
185–205 Heishan bandit movement Han dynasty Bandit confederacy of the Taihang Mountains Gongsun Zan's forces Suppression of the rebellion, though Han dynasty is severely weakened
3rd–5th century Bagaudae Roman Empire Bagaudae Suebi Gain control of some territory; end with the general collapse of the Roman Empire
4th–late 5th century Circumcellions Roman Empire (until 435) Catholic Church (until 435) Vandal Kingdom (since 435) African landlords Berber and Roman peasants Donatist authorities Rebellious Roman military under Gildo (in 398) End of Roman Catholic rule in Africa, but suppression of the rebellion by Vandals and Arian authorities
611–619 Anti-Sui rebellions Sui dynasty Peasants under several rebel leaders Defected military forces under several rebel generals, officials and nobles Collapse of Sui dynasty; ascendancy of rebel leader Li Yuan after infighting among rebel forces
841–843 Stellinga Uprising Saxon nobility Frankish military under Louis the German Stellinga Suppression of the rebellion
859–860 Rebellion of Ch'iu Fu Tang dynasty Chinese peasants and bandits under Ch'iu Fu Suppression of the rebellion, though Tang dynasty is severely weakened
874–878 Rebellion of Wang Xianzhi Tang dynasty Chinese peasants and bandits under Wang Xianzhi and Shang Junzhang Suppression of the rebellion, though Tang dynasty is severely weakened
875–884 Rebellion of Huang Chao Tang dynasty Chinese peasants and bandits under Huang Chao Suppression of the rebellion, though Tang dynasty is severely weakened
928–932 Basil the Copper Hand Rebellions Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire Peasants under Basil the Copper Hand Suppression of the rebellion
993–995 Da Shu rebellion in Sichuan Song dynasty Peasants under Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun Suppression of the rebellion
996 Peasants' revolt in Normandy Normandy under Rodulf of Ivry and Richard II, Duke of Normandy Norman peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1277–1280 Uprising of Ivaylo Bulgarian nobility Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire Golden Horde Peasants under Ivaylo Murder of Ivaylo
1323–1328 Peasant revolt in Flanders Kingdom of France Flemish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1343–1345 St. George's Night Uprising Livonian Order Denmark Kingdom of Denmark Estonian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1351–1368 Red Turban Rebellion Yuan dynasty Goryeo Red Turban Armies of White Lotus members, Manichaeans and Chinese peasants Fall of Yuan dynasty and retreat of the Mongols into Mongolia as the Northern Yuan dynasty; ascendancy of rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang after infighting among rebel forces
1358 Jacquerie Kingdom of France French peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1381 Peasants' Revolt Kingdom of England English peasants Suppression of the rebellion, though Plantagenet dynasty is weakened
1382 Harelle Kingdom of France French peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1428 Shocho uprising Ashikaga shogunate Japanese peasants Peasant debts cancelled.
1437 Transylvanian peasant revolt Kingdom of Hungary Transylvanian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1438 Hallvard Graatops Revolt  Kalmar Union Norwegian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1441 Kakitsu uprising Ashikaga shogunate Do-ikki (leagues) of peasants and jizamurai Peasant debts cancelled, Ashikaga shogunate is severely weakened.
1441 Funen and Jutland Peasant rebellions  Kalmar Union Danish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1450 Jack Cade's rebellion Kingdom of England English peasants Suppression of the rebellion, though Lancaster dynasty is weakened and eventually overthrown during the Wars of the Roses.
1450–1451 John and William Merfold's Uprising Kingdom of England English peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1453–1454 Morea revolt of 1453–54 Byzantine Empire Despotate of the Morea Ottoman Empire Greek peasants under Manuel Kantakouzenos Albanians under Peter Bua Latin loyalists under John Asen Zaccaria Suppression of the rebellion
1462–1472, 1485–1486 War of the Remences Catalan constitutionalists and nobility (1462–1472) Crown of Aragon (1485–1486) Catalan peasants Royalists under John II of Aragon (1462–1472) Goal of the rebellion largely achieved, Sentència de Guadalupe signed
1467–1469 Galician Irmandiños Revolt Kingdom of Galicia (Crown of Castile) Galician peasants, led by Galician burgeoisie and part of the local lower nobility Suppression of the rebellion by feudal armies
May 1476 Niklashausen Peasant Revolt Holy Roman Empire German peasants led by Hans Böhm, who had a vision of the Virgin Mary, against the nobility and clergy of the Holy Roman Empire. Böhm executed and pilgrimages to Niklashausen ceased
1478 Carinthian Peasant Revolt Holy Roman Empire Carinthian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1482–1511 Yamashiro ikki uprisings Ashikaga shogunate
Various samurai clans
Yamashiro ikki and later, lesser ikki
Various samurai clans
Most ikki submit to the shogunate in 1493, though they achieved many of their aims and continued to retain autonomy until the gradual end of the movement
1487–1488 Kaga Rebellion Togashi clan Ikkō-ikkiMotoori clanYamagawa clan Decisive victory for the Ikkō-ikki.
1488–1582 Ikkō-ikki Uprisings Several major samurai clans (including Oda clan and Tokugawa clan) Nichiren sect Tendai sōhei Jōdo-shū sōhei Ikkō-shū peasant and ji-samurai leagues Jōdo Shinshū sōhei Mōri clan Azai clan Asakura clan Destruction of most militant Ikkō-shū leagues; Jōdo Shinshū sect and remaining Ikkō-ikki submit to Toyotomi Hideyoshi
1493–1517 Bundschuh movement Holy Roman Empire German Peasants All rebellions suppressed
1498–1878 Opryshky movement Kingdom of Poland Holy Roman Empire Ukrainian peasants Suppression of the movement
1511 Friulian Revolt Republic of Venice Friulian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1514 Poor Conrad Rebellion Duchy of Württemberg Württemberg peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1514 György Dózsa Rebellion Kingdom of Hungary Hungarian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1515 Slovene Peasant Revolt of 1515 Holy Roman Empire Slovene peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1515–1523 Frisian peasant rebellion Habsburg Netherlands Arumer Zwarte Hoop Charles II, Duke of Guelders Suppression of the rebellion
1516–1521 Trần Cảo Rebellion Lê dynasty Vietnamese peasants under Trần Cảo and Trần Cung Suppression of the rebellion, though Lê dynasty is severely weakened
1519–1659 Celali rebellions Ottoman Caliphate Turkmen peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1524–1525 German Peasants' War Swabian League German peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1524–1533 Dalecarlian Rebellions  Sweden Dalarna peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1525 Palatine Peasants' War Electoral Palatinate Palatine peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1534 Skipper Clement's Rebellion Denmark Christian III Denmark Kingdom of Denmark Danish Peasants under Skipper Clement Denmark Christian II Suppression of the rebellion
1540 Peasant's Rebellion in Telemark Denmark–Norway Norwegian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1542–1543 Dacke War  Sweden Småland peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1549 Kett's Rebellion Kingdom of England English peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1573 Croatian–Slovene Peasant Revolt Holy Roman Empire

Kingdom of Croatia

Slovene peasants Croatian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1594–1637 Croquant rebellions Kingdom of France French peasants Suppression of all rebellions
1596–1597 Cudgel War Sweden Sweden Finnish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1606–1607 Bolotnikov Rebellion Tsardom of Russia Russian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1626–1636 Peasants' War in Upper Austria Electorate of Bavaria Austrian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1630–1645 Rebellion of Li Zicheng Ming dynasty (1630–1644) Qing Dynasty (1644–1645) Peasants under Li Zicheng, Gao Guiying and other generals of the Shun dynasty Collapse of Ming dynasty, but suppression of the rebellion by Qing dynasty
1630–1647 Rebellion of Zhang Xianzhong Ming dynasty (1630–1644) Qing Dynasty (1644–1647) Peasants and bandits under Zhang Xianzhong Collapse of Ming dynasty, but suppression of the rebellion by Qing dynasty
1635 Second Slovene peasants' revolt Holy Roman Empire Peasants under a scattered leadership of various leaders Suppression of the rebellion
1637–1638 Shimabara Rebellion Tokugawa shogunate Netherlands Dutch Empire Christian peasants and rōnin Suppression of the rebellion
1651 Kostka-Napierski Uprising Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Polish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1652 Guo Huaiyi Rebellion Dutch East India Company Aboriginal Taiwanese Chinese peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1653 Swiss peasant war of 1653 Republic of the Swiss Swiss peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1667–1671 Stepan Razin Rebellion Tsardom of Russia Russian peasants Don Cossacks Suppression of the rebellion
1669–1670 Peasant Rebellion in Podhale Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Polish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1704 Kuridža's Rebellion  Republic of Venice Orthodox peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1705–1706 Bavarian People's Uprising  Habsburg Monarchy Bavarian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1707–1708 Bulavin Rebellion Tsardom of Russia Russian peasants Don Cossacks Suppression of the rebellion
1713 Slovene peasant revolt in Tolmin Holy Roman Empire Peasants under a scattered leadership of various leaders, including Ivan Miklavčič Suppression of the rebellion
1730–1769 Peasant revolts for the restoration of the Lê dynasty and land reforms Trịnh lords Nguyễn lords Vietnamese peasants Lê dynasty Suppression of the rebellions and eventual collapse of Lê dynasty, but start of Tây Sơn Revolt
1743 Dalecarlian rebellion Sweden Sweden Swedish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1765 Strilekrigen Denmark Denmark–Norway Norwegian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1768–1769 Koliivshchyna Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Russia Russian Empire Haidamaka movement Suppression of the rebellion
1769–1788 Tây Sơn Revolt Nguyễn lords (until 1776)
Nguyễn Ánh's forces (since 1776)
Trịnh lords (until 1786)
Siam (in 1785)
Lê dynasty (1786–1788)
Qing Dynasty (1787–1788)
Tây Sơn dynasty Goal of the rebellion achieved; reunification of Vietnam and introduction of land reforms under Tây Sơn dynasty
1773–1775 Pugachev's Rebellion  Russian Empire Russian peasants Ural Cossacks Bashkirs Suppression of the rebellion
1780–1783 Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II  Spain Quechua and Aymara peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1784 Revolt of Horea, Cloșca and Crișan  Austrian Empire Romanian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1786–1787 Lofthusreisingen Denmark Denmark–Norway Norwegian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1786–1787 Shays' Rebellion  United States American farmers Suppression of the rebellion, constitutional reform
1790 Saxon Peasants' Revolt Saxony Saxon peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1791–1794 Whisky Rebellion  United States American farmers Suppression of the rebellion, whiskey tax is repealed shortly after
1793–1796 War in the Vendée France French Republic Catholic and Royal Army Kingdom of France Chouan rebels Kingdom of France Émigrés  Great Britain Suppression of the rebellion
1793–1804 Chouannerie France French Republic Kingdom of France Chouan rebels Catholic and Royal Army Kingdom of France Émigrés  Great Britain Suppression of the rebellion
1794 Kościuszko Uprising  Russian Empire Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Prussia Polish loyalists Polish nationalist nobility Polish peasants Polish Jacobins Suppression of the rebellion
1794–1804 White Lotus Rebellion Qing Dynasty White Lotus rebels Suppression of the rebellion
1798 Peasants' War France French Republic Low countries peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1800–1802 Lærdal Rebellion Denmark Denmark–Norway Norwegian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1807–1820 Jean-Baptiste Perrier's rebellion Republic of Haiti Haitian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1809 Tyrolean Rebellion France French Empire  Bavaria Saxony  Napoleonic Italy Tyrolean peasants  Austria Suppression of the rebellion
1809 Gottscheer Rebellion France First French Empire Austrian Empire Gottschee German peasants Slovene peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1811 Klågerup riots  Sweden Swedish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1826–1854 Peasant uprisings during the reign of Nicholas I of Russia  Russian Empire Russian peasants About 556 small-scale rural uprisings took place during Nicholas' reign. All were suppressed, but contributed to the Russian Emperor's reluctance to end the serfdom in Russia.
1832–1835 Cabanada Empire of Brazil Restorationist peasants Rebellion subdued after the premature death of former Emperor Pedro I
1834–1835 Syrian Peasant Revolt (1834–35) Egypt Eyalet Arab peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1835–1840 Cabanagem Empire of Brazil Indigenous, mestizo and black peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1838–1841 Balaiada Empire of Brazil Peasants and African slaves Suppression of the rebellion
1839–1845 Anti-Rent War  United States  New York (state) Upstate tenant farmers initially suppressed by the state militia, rebel anti-rent leaders arrested though they were either pardoned or not sentenced, anti-renters continued to rebel decades after the trials, the Antirenter party was formed and tenant rights were granted.
1844 Piquet uprising Republic of Haiti Piquets (Haitian peasants) under Acaau Piquet movement leaders integrated into government, but goals not achieved
1846 Acaau's second rebellion Republic of Haiti Haitian peasants under Acaau Suppression of the rebellion
1846 Galician Peasant Uprising of 1846  Austrian Empire Galician peasants De facto suppression of the rebellion, although it was both sparked and extinguished by the Austrian authorities and eventually led to abolition of serfdom in Galicia and Lodomeria two years later.
1847-1915 Caste War of Yucatán Mexico
 Guatemala
 British Honduras
Maya peasants of the Yucatán Peninsula Temporary establishment of Chan Santa Cruz state; eventually suppression of the rebellion
1850–1864 Taiping Rebellion Qing Dynasty Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Suppression of the rebellion
1851–1868 Nian Rebellion Qing Dynasty Nian militias Suppression of the rebellion
1858 Mahtra War  Russian Empire Estonian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1861 Bezdna unrest  Russian Empire Russian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1862 Great Peasant Uprising of 1862 Joseon Joseon Dynasty Korean peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1884 Chichibu Incident  Japan Japanese peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1888 Peasant Revolt in Banten  Dutch East Indies Bantenese peasants and ulamas Suppression of the rebellion
1892 Jerez uprising  Spain Regional fieldworkers Suppression of the rebellion
1894–1895 Donghak Peasant Revolution  Japan Joseon Joseon Dynasty Korean peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1896–1897 War of Canudos First Brazilian Republic Canudos inhabitants Suppression of the rebellion
1905–1908 Maji Maji Rebellion German East Africa Matumbi people, Ngoni people, and other Tanganyikans Suppression of the rebellion
1907 1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt Kingdom of Romania Romanian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1910 Kileler uprising Kingdom of Greece Farmers of Thessaly Initial suppression of the rebellion, followed by the arrested declared innocent and some minor measures in favor of the peasants being taken the next year; Actual requests of the peasants began being fulfilled in 1923.
1911 Peasant rebellion in eastern Henan Qing dynasty Yellow Way Society Suppression of the rebellion
1912-1916 Contestado War First Brazilian Republic Farmers and lumberjacks Suppression of the rebellion
1913 Peasant revolt in Northern Shaanxi Republic of China Chinese poppy farmers and bandits under a sect leader Spread of the revolt; poppy plant eradication campaign stopped
1914 Peasant Revolt in Albania Principality of Albania Catholic Militia Muslim peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1916 Urkun  Russian Empire Kyrgyz and Kazakh peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1918 Livny Uprising  Soviet Russia Russian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1918 Arsk Uprising  Soviet Russia Tatar peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1918 Sheksna uprising  Soviet Russia Russian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1919 Chapan rebellion  Soviet Russia Russian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1919–1922 Rebellion of "Chu the Ninth" (Ming pretender) Republic of China Yellow Way Society Suppression of the rebellion
1920 Pitchfork uprising  Soviet Russia "Black Eagle" peasant rebels Suppression of the rebellion
1920 Croatian Peasant Rebellion  Yugoslavia Croatian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1920–1922 Tambov Rebellion  Soviet Russia Russian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1920–1926 Spirit Soldier rebellions of eastern Sichuan and western Hubei Republic of China Spirit Soldier rebels, allied warlord forces Stalemate: Large Spirit Soldier armies are destroyed, but movement persists
1921 Peasant Rebellion of Sorokino  Soviet Russia Russian peasants and White Army veterans Suppression of the rebellion
1921 Malabar rebellion  India Indian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1924 Rebellion of "Wang the Sixth" (Ming pretender) Republic of China Wang's followers Suppression of the rebellion
1925 Rebellion of Chu Hung-teng (Ming pretender) Republic of China Heavenly Gate Society Suppression of the rebellion
1927 Autumn Harvest Uprising Republic of China Hunan Soviet Suppression of the rebellion
1928–1929 Red Spears' uprising in Shandong Republic of China Red Spear Society Suppression of the rebellion
1932 Salvadoran peasant massacre  El Salvador Salvadoran peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1932 Lesko uprising  Poland Polish peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1932 Peasant uprising against poppy-tax collection in Su County Republic of China Kuomintang members and allied gentry Chinese poppy farmers and gentry under Wang Xiaobai and Ma Fengshan Suppression of the rebellion
1932 Peasant uprising against poppy-tax collection in Lingbi County Republic of China Chinese poppy farmers under Tian Xuemin Goal of the rebellion achieved
1936 Miyun District rebellion East Hebei Autonomous Council
Empire of Japan
Yellow Sand Society Suppression of the rebellion
1944 Peasant revolt in Beichuan County Republic of China Chinese poppy farmers of Xiaoyuan and Houyuan Goal of the rebellion achieved
1944 Peasant uprising in Indramayu Empire of Japan Indramayu Peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1946–1951 Tebhaga movement Bengal landlords Bengal peasants (All India Kisan Sabha) Communist Party of India Goal of the rebellion partially achieved
1946–1951 Telangana Rebellion Razakars Hyderabad landlords Hyderabad State Hyderabad peasants (Andhra Mahasabha) Communist Party of India Goal of the rebellion achieved
1947–1954 Hukbalahap Rebellion  Philippines Filipino peasants (Hukbalahap) Suppression of the rebellion
1949 Nankar Rebellion Pakistan
Various Bengali Zamindars
Communist Party and Peasants Association Goal of the rebellion achieved
1950 Cazin rebellion  Yugoslavia Yugoslavian peasants Suppression of the rebellion
1952–1960 Mau Mau Uprising Kenya Colony Kikuyu farmhanders Suppression of the rebellion
1958 Rebellion at Fuzhou, Jiangxi  China Dacheng sects Suppression of the rebellion
1958 Rebellion at Yongjing  China Rural rebels Suppression of the rebellion
1959–1965 Escambray Rebellion  Cuba Cuban peasants Batista loyalists DRE  United States Suppression of the rebellion
1959 Peasant rebellion at Sizhuang, Henan  China "Regiment of Spirit Soldiers" Suppression of the rebellion
1960 Rebellion at Yongnian County  China New Star Society Suppression of the rebellion
1968–1969 Agbekoya  Nigeria Yoruba peasants Goal of the rebellion achieved
1969 Rebellion at Changchun  China Nine Palaces Way Suppression of the rebellion
1969 Rebellion at Shuangyang County  China Mount Wutai sect Suppression of the rebellion
1970s 1970s peasant revolts in Thailand  Thailand Thai peasants Peasant leaders assassinated
1975–1991 Uprisings in Tigray and Eritrea; part of the Ethiopian Civil War Ethiopia Tigrayan and Eritrean peasants Derg overthrown; Eritrean independence
1994 Zapatista uprising  Mexico Mexican indigenous peasants Ceasefire

See also


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