The murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, remains a chilling and pivotal moment in medieval history.
Born in the midst of merchant class life in Cheapside, London, Becket unexpectedly rose to power as a trusted friend and confidant of King Henry II, serving as both chancellor and later archbishop.
As tensions grew over the boundaries of royal and ecclesiastical authority, their friendship deteriorated into a bitter dispute.
Events unfolded dramatically, culminating in a brutal encounter in Canterbury Cathedral. What prompted the king to release such fury, and how did this single event shift the course of history?
Becket’s Unlikely Rise to Power
The Murder of Thomas Becket: The Archbishop’s Brutal End in Canterbury Cathedral
Becket’s Unlikely Rise to Power
Thomas Becket, born around 1120 as the son of a French immigrant merchant, rose to prominence through a series of unexpected appointments and personal connections. His early life saw him schooled at Merton Priory and later studying in Paris.
Becket’s talent was recognized by Theobald, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who suggested him to King Henry II as Chancellor of England. This appointment in 1155 marked a significant turning point in Becket’s life. The young clerk soon became an integral figure in Henry’s inner circle, enjoying the king’s favor and sharing his lavish lifestyle.
Becket’s time at the royal court saw him engage in extensive travel, luxurious entertaining, and owning ships for his frequent journeys to France.
As Becket’s stature grew, so did his influence. In 1162, Henry II, capitalizing on their close friendship, appointed Becket as the Archbishop of Canterbury, hoping to further his own control over the Church.
Despite the initial closeness, Becket’s transformation from a carefree official to a devout and pious leader increasingly distanced him from the king, ultimately leading to a life-changing conflict over clerical privilege.
The Fatal King-Henry Dispute
Henry II’s appointment of Becket as the Archbishop of Canterbury sparked a bitter struggle for power and influence between the monarch and his former friend. The conflict began with Becket’s assertion of his authority as the supreme religious leader of England, which threatened Henry’s control over the church.
Becket’s stance further aggravated their discord, as he became more overtly defiant of the king’s wishes. This was exemplified when Becket opposed Henry’s plan to limit ecclesiastical power through the Constitutions of Clarendon.
Henry’s irritation was compounded by Becket’s excommunication of several bishops for crowning Henry II’s son without his permission. This action deepened the division between them and the threat of further ecclesiastical sanctions hung overhead. Henry’s outburst, ‘Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?’, often interpreted as a direct command to kill Becket, expresses his growing frustration.
The precipitating event for Becket’s murder was when Henry’s son was crowned by the Archbishop of York, breaching Canterbury’s privilege of coronation. The dispute between Becket and Henry II became deadly when four knights from the king’s court pursued Becket to Canterbury Cathedral, ultimately ending his life.
Rogue Knights Enter Canterbury
Furious at Becket’s defiance, four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton—triggered by Henry’s perceived command, set out for Canterbury to confront the Archbishop. Convinced that Becket was impeding the Crown’s authority and embarrassed both the king and themselves, the knights decided to take drastic action.
Arriving at Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170, the knights found Becket in the Archbishop’s Palace. They demanded that he accompany them to Winchester to account for his actions, but Becket steadfastly refused. As the confrontation escalated, the knights’ intentions became deadly.
With no clear intention to kill initially, the knights’ aggressive behavior soon turned violent. Becket, determined to stand his ground, confronted them, even holding onto a pillar to prevent his capture. The relentless pursuit by the knights ultimately led to Becket’s brutal murder, which shocked the medieval world.
Assassination and Its Aftermath
Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton—mired in bloodlust and rage—ended Thomas Becket‘s defiant protest. The four knights, fueled by a zealous desire to please King Henry II, burst into Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. Their brutal fury culminated in Becket’s gruesome assassination; the decapitated Archbishop lay lifeless, surrounded by terrified clergy and monks.
The allegiance of the knights to Henry II manifested in their attempt to capture Becket, but ultimately, they saw him as an obstacle to the king’s power and chose to end his life. In the immediate aftermath, chaos engulfed the Cathedral as the monks abandoned their duties in terror.
Pope Alexander III, outraged by this heinous act, excommunicated the knights on Easter Day in 1171, ordering them to make a 14-year pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Henry II, devastated by the consequences of his own anger, walked barefoot through Canterbury, begging for forgiveness at Becket’s tomb.
This tragic event spawned profound repercussions in the relationship between the Church and State during the Middle Ages, as it starkly highlighted the struggle for power and authority between the two institutions. Needless to say, this event had far-reaching impacts on the tenor of medieval politics and theological jurisdiction.
Legacy of the Murdered Saint
After Becket’s tragic murder, he was canonized a saint by Pope Alexander III, sparking a tide of devotion that spread across Christendom. His shrine in Canterbury became a beacon of hope and a powerful symbol of the triumph of faith over oppression.
Becket’s legacy expanded as his miracles were documented by the monks at Canterbury. His fame reached such heights that Henry II, who’d initially condoned his murder, performed public penance at Becket’s tomb in 1174.
The king’s actions acknowledged his role in the saint’s martyrdom and endorsed Becket’s status as a protector. Over time, Becket’s relics were dispersed across Europe, further solidifying his cult following.
To mark the 850th anniversary of his assassination, the British Museum staged a five-star exhibition in 2021. The exhibition showcased artifacts associated with Becket, including illuminated manuscripts, jewellery, and reliquaries.
The event reinforced Becket’s enduring influence and cemented his place as a figure of enduring importance in medieval history, symbolizing the Church’s defiance against monarchical authority. His story continues to captivate and inspire, serving as a demonstration of the power of faith and resilience in the face of adversity.
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