Meanwhile, the great movement known as the Gregorian Reform had spread from Italy to France and the Holy Roman Empire and had begun to influence English churchmen. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Henry sensed this as an opportunity to assert royal supremacy over the English Church by appointing Becket as the next archbishop. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was killed in December 1170. Thomas Becket was a trusted and close friend of King Henry II. Beguiling treasures of the medieval world are to go on show to help tell the story of Thomas Becket and his murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. He was born on December 21, which was the feast day of St Thomas, the Apostle. When news of Becket’s actions reached Henry he was infuriated and spoke some violent words. His contemporaries described Thomas as a tall and spare figure with dark hair and a pale face that flushed in excitement. “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?” In 1155 Becket was made Chancellor to Henry II. He had one sibling, Mary. In June 1170 Henry infringed the rights of Canterbury by having his son crowned by the archbishop of York; this offense forced the Pope more definitely to Becket's side. His father was a well-connected merchant but the family were neither excessively wealthy nor powerful. The murder of Becket became a key element in the history of this cathedral. People used to think his name was Thomas á Becket, but it is now known to be wrong. Major works based on his story include Alfred Tennyson’s play Becket, T. S. Eliot’s play Murder in the Cathedral and Jean Anouilh’s play Becket or the Honour of God, on which the 1964 Academy Award winning movie Becket was based. People used to think his name was Thomas á Becket, but it is now known to be wrong. Thomas Becket's life and death were remarkable. Trusted completely by the king, Thomas was compared by a biographer to Joseph under Pharaoh. There are suggestions below for improving the article. St. Thomas Becket. On 29 December 1170, Becket was murdered in the north-west transept. He attended Merton Priory School at the age of 10. A lot may ask why Thomas … He was educated first at the Augustinian Merton Priory, then in a London school, and finally at Paris. More serious in the eyes of contemporaries was his refusal to surrender his archdeaconry while neglecting its duties, and his extraction of scutage (payment in lieu of military service) at a high rate from ecclesiastical fiefs. This was undermining the authority of the pope as only Thomas Becket, as Archbishop of Canterbury, had the right to crown English monarchs. Soon after his death many people throughout Europe started venerating Becket as a martyr. Thomas Becket was a good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. There is no foundation for the story. His memory was extraordinarily tenacious and, though neither a scholar nor a stylist, he excelled in argument and repartee. In 1154 Theobald, as a reward of his services, appointed Thomas archdeacon of Canterbury, an important and lucrative post, and less than three months later recommended him to Henry as chancellor. St. Thomas Becket. In 1164, with the rift between the two coming to the point where Henry was about to imprison or force Becket to resign, Becket fled into exile in France where King Louis VII offered him protection. His colleagues were a distinguished company that included the political philosopher John of Salisbury, the Roman lawyer Vacarius, and several future bishops, including Roger of Pont l’Évêque, later archbishop of York. Corrections? Thomas Becket became the Lord Chancellor and the Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of King Henry II of England. It really helped with my history homework! He was an intelligent child, who also enjoyed playing sports and hunting. Today, people call this murdering site as Martyrdom. Thomas Becket was born in 1118 at Cheapside, London, to French parents who had left Normandy following the Norman Conquest. Thomas Becket is known for being the Archbishop of Canterbury and very known for his conflict story between Henry and Thomas, a story that has been told through old times until modern times. Becket benefited from his family's status first by being sent to Paris for his education and from there to England where he joined the household of Theobold, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion. His career was marked by a long quarrel with Henry that ended with Becket’s murder in Canterbury Cathedral. They asked Becket to give an account of his actions to the king. After Becket was canonized several legends became associated with him. Also, much to the irritation of Henry, he resigned the chancellorship but clung to the archdeaconry until Henry forced him to resign. Thomas was born to Norman parents of the merchant class. He must also have enjoyed the satisfaction of moving in a rank of society to which he had not been born. The major point of disagreement was about clerks (churchmen) who were accused of committing a serious crime. Henry II ordered Becket to appear before his courts. When he was 24, his father secured a position for Thomas in the household of Theobald of Bec, the Archbishop of Canterbury. In its program, free elections to clerical posts, inviolability of church property, freedom of appeal to Rome, and clerical immunity from lay tribunals were leading points. Becket maintained that they could be only judged by, In 1164, with the rift between the two coming to the point where Henry was about to imprison or force Becket to resign, Becket, #8 King Henry allowed Becket to return as he feared an interdict for England, In 1170, Henry’s eldest son was crowned as co-king by, #9 Thomas Becket was murdered by knights of King Henry II, After his return, Becket continued to carry excommunications against royal servants and refused to lift the excommunication of Roger of York. Henry’s attitude is less easy to identify, but the efficiency and intelligence of Thomas must have recommended him to a king surrounded by uneducated and at times truculent barons. He is a patron saint of secular clergy (priests and deacons who serve pastorally in parishes). The major point of disagreement was about clerks (churchmen) who were accused of committing a serious crime. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. On 21 February 1173, Pope Alexander III officially declared him a saint. During this period Henry issued official orders against Becket and his supporters while Becket excommunicated a number of Henry’s advisers and clerical servants. We use our own and third party cookies to improve your experience and our services; and to analyze your use of our website. The relationship between King Henry II and Thomas Beckett which started with being the best of friends but deteriorated when Thomas Becket was made Archbishop of Canterbury. Four daughters of the marriage also survived into adulthood. Henry persisted and Thomas was elected. 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