Thomas Becket
In 1154, Henry II, the new king, and a friend of Thomas Becket's
appointed young Archdeacon as chancellor. In 1161 Theobald, Archbishop
of Canterbury, died. Henry nominated Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thomas's refusal to maintain both positions began a dispute between the
two friends which grew as they differed over the roles of church and
state. Their relationship severed completely with Becket's outright
dismissal of the Henry's Constitutions of Clarendon.
The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures
passed by Henry
II of England in 1164. The Constitutions were composed of 16
articles and represent an attempt to restrict ecclesiastical
privileges and curb the power of the Church courts and the
extent of Papal authority
in England.
Henry would not tolerate such an outright defiance, and charged
Thomas with treason. Becket escaped arrest, fleeing to France, where he
resided in sanctuary at SENS CATHEDRAL. After six years in exile, a
truce was reached in 1170, and the archbishop returned home. However a
peace of agreement between them was not to be achieved. Unable to
tolerate certain offenses to the church, which had arisen in his
absence, Becket excommunicated some of Henry's closest allies. Among the
most powerful of these, were the bishops of London and Salisbury.
Henry believed that upon his return to England, Thomas would change
his stance regarding the bishops. Becket stood firm in his condemnation,
which enraged the king further. It is attributed to Henry the words:
"who will read me of this meddlesome priest". Whether such words were
actually spoken, we do not know.
On December 29, 1170, Thomas was murdered upon the altar of
Canterbury Cathedral by several of Henry's knights. Henry was greatly
disturbed by the killing. The guilty were eventually hunted down. In
time the king humbled himself impenitent by walking through the streets
of Canterbury without shoes while suffering a flogging administered by
rows of monks. 1173 Thomas Becket was canonized by the Pope.
