THE MURDER OF THOMAS BECKET

« A personality clash at the centre of the dispute »

By Juliet de Smet, Katy Naydenova, Lucie Georjon and Bianca Bucuroiu

Brief overview

Thomas Becket His murder The personality clash – What? Which

view? Validity of this view?

12th century archbishop and chancellor Birth around 1120, son of a prosperous London merchant Agent to Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury – missions to Rome

=> Archbishop in 1161 Disagreements with King Henry II Exile to France (1164-1170) Murdered the 29th December 1170 in the Canterbury Cathedral Canonised in 1173 – shrine important focus for pilgrimage

Thomas Becket

His murder

In Canterbury Cathedral: Becket =>

cornered by four knights; restoration of the

excommunicated bishops’ powers

Becket’s refusal => agreement: people protected

Pulled down and killed

The personality clash at the centre of the dispute – our view

What is a personality clash?

Two or more people (very different personalities); good relationship with each other = unable

Becket : common man (frank enjoyment for wealth) => no aptitude for a spiritual life; death of the archbishop, decision of his succession by Henry

Bishops uneasy: - courtier being made archbishop, -no great amount of education, - on the kings’ side and not the Church’s side (war taxes)

The cause of the conflict: “criminal clerics”

12th century: clerics accused of crimes => ecclesiastical courts (murderers and rapists not hung, merely expelled from the clergy)

Objection of many lay people to this standard

Henry => eliminate or modify this privilege of clergy; most bishops willing but not Thomas

Decision of Henry (betrayed by Becket) to destroy him (harassment)

Flee of Becket to the continent (lived for years in exile); Becket’s return to England (no reconciliation) => decision of his murder by Henry to his men

Validity of this view? Principle conflict => major crisis (different personalities between

Henry II and Thomas Becket)

Protection of their own principles: - reforming popes: independency of clergy and power over the

clergy (purification of the Church); would work with and for the king, Henry II -> power over the Church

- Thomas Becket: against royal influence over Church (ecclesiastical liberties and clerical independence) <- new and unusual situation

Disagreement => conflict with King Henry II (Thomas Becket: archbishop of Canterbury => decision of his murder by the King)