thomas Becket

• King Henry II

  Reigned from 1154-1189
• Thomas Becket

  Appointed as Chancellor by King Henry II in 1154, later became Archbishop of Canterbury
• Appointment of Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury

  1. Henry needed a new archbishop

  2. Believed Becket would help reform church courts and limit power of Pope

  3. Becket said his most important duty was to the Church, not the King
• Constitutions of Clarendon

  1. Henry had it drafted

  2. Said royal justice would be supreme in England

  3. King would appoint bishops and archbishops

  4. Becket agreed then refused as it would reduce power of Church
• Becket refused to obey Henry

  Henry had Becket put on trial, found guilty, Becket fled to France
• Young Henry's coronation


  • Archbishop of York, Bishop of Salisbury and Bishop of London crowned him instead of Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Becket saw this as a betrayal
• Becket's return to England

  1. Excommunicated Archbishop of York and two other bishops

  2. Questioned legitimacy of Young Henry's coronation

  3. Caused Henry II to launch into a fit of rage
• Murder of Becket

  1. Knights decided Henry wanted Becket removed

  2. Travelled to Canterbury, argued with Becket

  3. Put on armour and murdered Becket after a struggle

  4. Also maimed the priest Edward Grim
• Henry II's role in Becket's death


  • Heard shouting 'Who will rid me of this troublesome priest'
  • Accepted part in death, allowed himself to be whipped by monks
  • Continued Church Courts out of respect for Becket
  • Never directly instructed knights to kill Becket, sent someone to stop them
• Becket's role in his own death


  • Disagreed with king several times, knew he might be punished
  • After reconciling, excommunicated Henry's followers
• Becket's underclothes were made of horse hair, showing he was repenting of his sins
• People claimed miracles were happening because of Becket, he was made a saint in 1173
• In 1174 Henry made a pilgrimage to Becket's shrine and was whipped by monks as a sign of penance
• Henry was forced to back down over church courts, his later reign was made difficult by divisions in his family as his sons turned against him
• Henry became King of England when his brother Richard died without an heir