One Of The Worst Riots In History Started Over A Seriously Ridiculous Reason

In the Middle Ages, “town and gown” altercations were common in areas that surrounded a university. Students and locals detested each other, and the groups clashed in fights, which would commonly end with deaths on each side. One of the most famous of these was the St. Scholastica Day Riot. It left a permanent mark on history, but few know the ridiculous reason the whole affair started in the first place.

Where It Started

To understand the riot's origins, we must go to one of the U.K.’s most well-known university towns: Oxford, home of the St. Scholastica Day Riot. The event started on the southwest corner of Carfax in a building that’s now owned by the Abbey National Building Society. Before it was sold, it used to house an often-crowded pub.

St. Scholastica Feast Day

In the 1300s, the building was still the Swindlestock Tavern — a pub beloved by Oxford’s residents and students. On February 10, 1355, the bar was filled with revelers of various backgrounds celebrating the St. Scholastica feast day. Scholastica was an Italian nun who lived in a nunnery outside of Plombariola, Italy.

Sister Sisters

She has a famous sister who’s also a Sister: St. Benedict of Nursia, the patron saint of Europe. St. Scholastica protects against storms and heavy rain and she’s the patron saint of Benedictine nuns, education, and children who suffer from seizures. Her protections seem a bit random. 

Hating On Students

Local residents arguably hated the students of Oxford more than the students disliked the townsfolk. This was partially because students were protected by the Catholic Church, a powerful force in England. Under the Church, students couldn’t be sued, paid few taxes, and weren’t likely to be arrested. Townsfolk didn't like that one bit.