It was perhaps the worst college campus riot ever. It originated in a quarrel in a tavern. The violence lasted for three days, involved students and townspeople, and ended with several deaths and many injuries. It happened in the year 1354 at which colleg

A dispute over the quality of wine at a local tavern sparked one of the most violent academic-related riots in history. On February 10, 1354, a group of students at the University of Oxford complained about their drinks, leading to an argument with the innkeeper that quickly spilled into the streets. This event, now known as the St. Scholastica Day Riot, was the bloody culmination of long-simmering tensions between the "town" (local citizens) and the "gown" (the university's students and masters), who enjoyed special legal privileges that locals resented.

The initial brawl escalated dramatically over three days. The town's church bells were rung to summon locals, who, joined by people from the countryside armed with clubs and bows, attacked university halls. The conflict resulted in the deaths of an estimated 63 scholars and 30 townspeople, with many more injured. In the aftermath, King Edward III sided decisively with the university. As a punishment, the town was forced to pay an annual fine and its mayor had to attend a special mass of penance each year on St. Scholastica's Day, a tradition that was not formally abolished until 1825.