Revolten

Revolten is the plural form used in several Germanic languages, including German, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish, to denote an act of rebellion or insurrection. In those linguistic contexts, Revolten refers to organized challenges to established political authority and can range from localized uprisings to broader movements. In English-language historiography, revolts or uprisings are used as equivalents, with Revolten serving as a label for multiple episodes rather than a single event.

The term derives from the Latin revolta, via the Old French revolte, and carries the sense of turning back, overturning, or revolt against power. Its usage is common in discussions of social and political conflict across different eras and regions.

There is no single event universally named Revolten. Rather, the term is used to describe a category of episodes in which organized groups, communities, or coalitions mobilize against rulers, governments, or occupying forces. Causes typically include taxation, conscription, economic hardship, political exclusion, and ethnic or national tensions. Movements vary in organization, from peasant uprisings and urban protests to clandestine networks and guerrilla actions, and outcomes range from suppression and repression to concessions, reforms, or regime change.

See also Revolt, Rebellion, Insurrection, Uprising.