Thomas Becket

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Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, was born in London, England, on December 21, 1119. He was the son of Gilbert Becket, a merchant, and Matilda. Thomas received his early education at the Merton Priory in Surrey and later studied in Paris. In 1141, he began his career as a clerk in the household of Theobald of Bec, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1154, Henry II ascended to the English throne, and Theobald recommended Thomas Becket to serve as the new king's chancellor. Thomas quickly gained the king's trust and became one of his closest advisors. As chancellor, Becket was responsible for overseeing the royal administration and played a significant role in the expansion of the king's power.

In 1162, following the death of Theobald, Henry II appointed Thomas Becket as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest ecclesiastical position in England. This appointment was intended to strengthen the king's control over the Church. However, Becket's faith and devotion to the Church led him to prioritize its interests over those of the king, causing a rift between the two former friends.

One of the main points of contention between Becket and Henry II was the issue of clerical privilege. The king sought to reduce the power of the Church by subjecting clergy members accused of crimes to secular courts, rather than allowing them to be tried by ecclesiastical courts. In 1164, Henry II issued the Constitutions of Clarendon, a set of legislative proposals aimed at limiting the Church's authority. Becket initially agreed to the Constitutions but later retracted his support, leading to a series of disputes with the king.

In October 1164, Becket was summoned to appear before a royal council in Northampton to answer charges of contempt and malfeasance. Fearing for his safety, Becket fled to France and sought the protection of Pope Alexander III. During his six-year exile, Becket continued to defend the rights of the Church and excommunicated several of the king's supporters.

In 1170, after lengthy negotiations, Becket and Henry II reached a tentative agreement, and the archbishop returned to England. However, tensions between the two remained high. Upon his return, Becket excommunicated three bishops who had supported the king during his absence, further angering Henry II.

On December 29, 1170, four knights, believing they were acting on the king's wishes, entered Canterbury Cathedral and murdered Thomas Becket. The brutal assassination shocked the Christian world and turned Becket into a martyr. In the years that followed, numerous miracles were attributed to Becket's intercession, and his tomb in Canterbury Cathedral became a popular pilgrimage site.

In 1173, just three years after his death, Thomas Becket was canonized as a saint by Pope Alexander III. The king, seeking to atone for his role in Becket's death, performed public penance at the saint's tomb in 1174.

The life of Thomas Becket is a testament to the power of faith and the struggle between Church and state in medieval England. His unwavering devotion to the Church and its interests, even in the face of opposition from his former friend and king, ultimately led to his martyrdom and sainthood. Today, Becket is remembered as a symbol of the Church's resistance to secular authority and as a champion of religious freedom.

See also

• British Museum timeline

Thomas Becket's faith

Thomas Becket's faith played a crucial role in his life, particularly after he was appointed as the Archbishop of Canterbury. As a deeply religious man, Becket's devotion to the Church and its teachings guided his actions and decisions throughout his tenure as archbishop.

Before becoming the Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket served as King Henry II's chancellor, where he was primarily focused on secular matters and the expansion of the king's power. However, upon his appointment as archbishop in 1162, Becket's priorities shifted towards the interests of the Church. This transformation was evident in his commitment to defending the Church's rights and privileges, even when it put him at odds with the king.

Becket's faith was particularly evident in his stance on clerical privilege. He believed that clergy members should be tried by ecclesiastical courts rather than secular courts, as the king desired. This belief stemmed from the idea that the Church should maintain its autonomy and not be subjected to the authority of the state. Becket's commitment to this principle led to a series of disputes with King Henry II, culminating in the issuance of the Constitutions of Clarendon, which aimed to limit the Church's authority. Becket initially agreed to the Constitutions but later retracted his support, further demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his faith and the Church.

During his six-year exile in France, Becket continued to defend the Church's rights and excommunicated several of the king's supporters who had violated ecclesiastical law. His faith remained steadfast, even in the face of personal danger and political pressure.

Thomas Becket's martyrdom in 1170, at the hands of knights who believed they were acting on King Henry II's wishes, further solidified his status as a symbol of religious devotion and resistance to secular authority. His unwavering faith and commitment to the Church ultimately led to his canonization as a saint by Pope Alexander III in 1173.

In summary, Thomas Becket's faith was the driving force behind his actions as the Archbishop of Canterbury. His devotion to the Church and its teachings guided his decisions, even when it put him in conflict with the king and led to his eventual martyrdom. Today, Becket is remembered as a champion of religious freedom and a symbol of the Church's resistance to secular authority.

Key People In Becket's Life

The key people in Thomas Becket's life include:

1. Gilbert Becket - Thomas Becket's father, a merchant in London.

2. Matilda - Thomas Becket's mother.

3. Theobald of Bec - The Archbishop of Canterbury who employed Thomas Becket as a clerk and later recommended him to King Henry II.

4. Henry II - The King of England who appointed Thomas Becket as his chancellor and later as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Their friendship turned into a conflict due to disagreements over the authority of the Church.

5. Pope Alexander III - The Pope who supported Thomas Becket during his exile in France and later canonized him as a saint after his death.

These individuals played significant roles in shaping Thomas Becket's life, career, and legacy.

Thomas Becket's influence and Legacy

Thomas Becket's influence and legacy are significant and far-reaching. Here are some of the ways in which he has impacted history:

1. Martyrdom and sainthood: Becket's brutal assassination in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 shocked the Christian world and turned him into a martyr. His tomb in Canterbury Cathedral became a popular pilgrimage site, and numerous miracles were attributed to his intercession. In 1173, just three years after his death, Becket was canonized as a saint by Pope Alexander III. His martyrdom and sainthood have made him a symbol of religious devotion and resistance to secular authority.

2. Church and state relations: Becket's conflict with King Henry II over the authority of the Church and the issue of clerical privilege highlighted the tension between the Church and the state in medieval England. His unwavering commitment to the Church's autonomy and his martyrdom have made him a symbol of the Church's resistance to secular authority.

3. Literature and the arts: Becket's life and martyrdom have inspired numerous works of literature and art. The most famous of these is T.S. Eliot's play "Murder in the Cathedral," which dramatizes Becket's assassination. Other notable works include Jean Anouilh's play "Becket," which was adapted into a film starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, and the 1964 film "Becket," which starred Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole.

4. Canterbury Cathedral: Becket's association with Canterbury Cathedral has made it one of the most important religious sites in England. The cathedral has undergone numerous renovations and additions over the centuries, and Becket's tomb remains a popular pilgrimage site.

5. Religious freedom: Becket's unwavering commitment to the Church's autonomy and his martyrdom have made him a symbol of religious freedom. His legacy has inspired countless individuals and organizations to fight for religious freedom and resist attempts to limit the autonomy of religious institutions.

In summary, Thomas Becket's influence and legacy are significant and far-reaching. His martyrdom and sainthood, his conflict with King Henry II, his association with Canterbury Cathedral, and his impact on literature and the arts have all contributed to his enduring legacy as a symbol of religious devotion and resistance to secular authority.