The peasant uprising that traumatised French aristocracy, a brief but violent groundswell that collapsed on 9–10 June 1358.
It’s often said by daydreamers pining for the past: oh how great it would be to live before technology, consumerism and big city hustle. One might imagine a cozy hut, fresh milk, honest self-sufficiency, deep connection to the land, and time for what really matters. Freedom from big tech and it’s reaching fingers.
It sounds lovely…
Now let’s pop that bubble.
Life for the medieval peasant in Europe was absolutely miserable. It couldn’t suck more. Especially in France.
For starters, we’re talking the Black Plague, shocking weather, famine, war, roaming mercenaries who rape and pillage, oh, and an entire class of oppressive nobles (read leeches) who drain the lower classes of any material gain.
No thanks.
But, amazingly, there is someone who endures all of this and more — Good ol’ Jacques Bonhomme.
Jack Goodfellow, or Silly Jack, so nicknamed by the nobles, is the common countryside peasant, the good-natured fool and beast of burden, a “stupid, clownish human being” who patiently endures all manner of abuse and cruelty.
