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• Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury, the most important bishop in England.
• In 1170, he was brutally murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.
• Historians have long debated whether his murder was on the orders of Henry II or if it was a terrible mistake.

In 1162, Henry II appointed Thomas Becket to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket had worked with the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald, and had been on several visits to see the Pope in Rome. Becket and Henry had been close friends for many years and Henry had appointed Becket as his Chancellor. When Archbishop Theobald died, Becket was Henry’s preferred candidate to take up this key position, alongside his role as Chancellor. Henry was confident that Becket would do what he wanted him to and support him in running the country.

Later in 1162, Thomas Becket resigned from his position as Chancellor. He wanted to concentrate on increasing the power and influence of the Church. This angered Henry and relations between the two deteriorated. In 1164, Henry tried to pass a set of laws called the Constitutions of Clarendon. The aim of these laws was to limit the power of the Church and increase the king's influence over the bishops and the Church courts. Becket refused to agree to the changes and consequently Henry tried to put Becket on trial for disobeying the king. Their once close relationship had completely broken down. Becket feared for his safety and fled to France.

In June 1170, Henry II was concerned about who would succeed him as king. Having seen the devastation that can occur when the line of succession is unclear, he had his son, Henry the Young King, crowned to become ‘junior king’ in a coronation performed by the Archbishop of York. This didn’t necessarily give Henry the Young King any extra power, but it angered Becket because coronations were traditionally performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which was still his role despite living in France. Becket appealed to the Pope and eventually Henry and Becket resolved some of their differences. Henry allowed Becket to return to England.

Before returning to England, Becket wrote a letter excommunicating the bishops involved in the coronation from the Church. This move angered Henry greatly.

Henry was furious at Becket’s actions, and was said to have shouted “Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?”

There is some doubt as to whether these were Henry’s actual words, but regardless, the consequences were terrible. Four knights heard Henry’s outburst and rode to Canterbury. They entered the cathedral and are said to have shouted “Where is Thomas Becket, traitor to the king and the kingdom?” They then murdered Becket, striking him three times with their swords before leaving.

Edward Grim, one of the monks at the cathedral, was with Becket when he died. Grim later wrote an account of what happened.

The knights who murdered Becket fled the scene of their crime and travelled to the north of England. They were excommunicated by the Pope, but after seeking forgiveness were told to serve as knights in the Holy Land on Crusades for 14 years.

Henry insisted that he had never intended for Becket to be murdered. In 1174, Henry faced a rebellion from his sons, supported by the French. He travelled to Becket’s tomb at Canterbury and declared the uprising was his punishment for what happened to Becket. He allowed himself to be whipped by bishops while he prayed for forgiveness.

Becket was made a saint by Pope Alexander III in 1173, just three years after his death. There was a belief that Becket’s blood, spilled on the floor of the Cathedral, had the power to heal the sick. Canterbury Cathedral became a popular pilgrimage site for people from across Europe.

The conflict between Henry II and Thomas Becket is an example of the many disputes over power in medieval times. Other examples of this can be seen in the Magna Carta in 1215 and the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381.