Explanation: The French Revolution is well-known, but France has a long history of ill-advised taxes leading to mass unrest (arguably a common theme throughout early modern history, but we’re choosing to pick on/lionize the French right now, depending on whether you find the stupidity of the elite or the bravery of the commons more pertinent to the meme). Taxes on salt, taxes on grain, poll taxes, sales taxes, war taxes, tariffs… you name it!

The Tuchin revolt (in French, the tuchinat) was a tax revolt of “workers and artisans” in Southern France between 1378 and 1384.[1]

In 1378, the town council of Le Puy imposed an indirect tax on consumption at a flat rate in order to subsidise the war with England. According to a letter written after the revolt, when the tax was announced the people cried, “O blessed Virgin Mary help us! How shall we live, how shall we be able to feed our children, since we cannot support the heavy taxes established to our own prejudice through the influence of the rich to reduce their own taxes?”[1]

God, some things never fucking change.

I’ll be honest I’d have a real hard time beheading that little guy

History repeats itself it would seem.