Saint Thomas Becket
Saint Thomas Becket (c. December 21, 1119 — December 29, 1170) was an English Anglican saint, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170, and a prominent figure in medieval Church-State relations. Originally serving as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry II, Becket underwent a dramatic spiritual transformation upon his election to the archbishopric, becoming a vigorous defender of ecclesiastical independence against royal authority. His martyrdom in Canterbury Cathedral and rapid canonization made him one of the most celebrated saints of medieval Christendom, and his shrine became a major pilgrimage destination throughout the European Middle Ages.
Born into a merchant family of Norman descent in London, Thomas was educated abroad and entered royal service as a young man. He served as Chancellor from 1155 until his appointment as Archbishop in 1162. Upon taking office, he abandoned his worldly lifestyle, adopted ascetical practices, and became the principal defender of Church rights and privileges against the increasingly authoritarian policies of King Henry II. The conflict between Crown and Church over taxation, justice, and appointments reached its climax with the Constitutions of Clarendon (1164), which sought to subordinate the Church to royal control. Rather than submit, Becket fled England and spent six years in French exile.
A temporary reconciliation in 1170 led to his return to England, but tensions immediately rekindled. On December 29, 1170, four knights—reportedly acting on an incautious remark by the king—murdered Becket in his own cathedral. He was canonized just two years later by Pope Alexander III, an extraordinarily rapid canonization that reflected the universal horror at his violent death and the widespread perception that he had been martyred for the defense of the Church. His shrine at Canterbury became the destination of countless pilgrims for centuries.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Thomas Becket
| Saint Thomas Becket | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 29 |
| Profession | Chancellor of England; Archbishop of Canterbury; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Church of England (Anglican Communion) |
| Patronage | Canterbury; clergy; priests; the Church; England (shared) |
| Attributes | Archbishop's pallium; sword (representing his martyrdom); crozier |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Death Place | Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England |
| Cause of Death | Murdered by four knights in Canterbury Cathedral; struck on the head with swords |
| Primary Shrine | Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England |
| Liturgical Class | Feast; optional memorial in some churches |
Biography
Birth and early life
Thomas Becket was born on December 21, 1119, in London, the son of Gilbert Becket, a wealthy merchant of Norman descent who held offices in London's civic government. His mother was Matilda (or Maud), a daughter of a Saracen woman and a crusader knight—a detail that reflects the cosmopolitan connections of the Norman merchant class. Thomas received his early education at Merton Priory near London and later studied abroad, possibly in Paris and Italy, where he gained a thorough knowledge of canon law.
Rise in royal service
Returning to England, Thomas entered the household of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, a powerful ecclesiastical figure who served as a counselor and diplomat to King King Stephen. Through Theobald's patronage, Thomas rose rapidly in favor and in 1155 was appointed Lord Chancellor by King Henry II, who had recently ascended the throne. As Chancellor, Becket proved an able administrator and diplomat, serving both the Church and Crown effectively. He was known for his administrative skill, his military acumen, and his enjoyment of courtly life. He was a particular favorite of the young king, and the two men developed a close personal friendship.
Appointment as Archbishop
On the death of Archbishop Theobald in 1161, King Henry II resolved to place his trusted friend Thomas Becket in the position. Becket reportedly demurred, warning the king that their friendship would not survive his appointment, for as Archbishop he would feel bound to defend the rights of the Church even against the Crown. Nevertheless, Henry was insistent, and Thomas was elected Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162.
Transformation and conflict
Upon his election, Becket underwent a dramatic spiritual transformation. He abandoned the luxurious lifestyle he had enjoyed as Chancellor, adopted a hair shirt, and devoted himself to ascetical practices and prayer. As Archbishop, he proved an uncompromising defender of ecclesiastical rights and privileges, defending the Church's independence from royal encroachment. He immediately became engaged in disputes with the Crown over taxation, the appointment of bishops, and the ecclesiastical courts' jurisdiction.
The fundamental issue was whether the Church in England was subject to royal authority or held its independence from the secular power. Henry II sought to strengthen royal control over the Church; Becket, as Archbishop, insisted on the Church's traditional autonomy as defined by canon law and by the doctrines of the Western Church.
The Constitutions of Clarendon
In 1164, King Henry II convened a council at Clarendon (near Salisbury) and sought to impose a new set of regulations, the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would have subjected the Church to significantly greater royal control. The document stipulated that ecclesiastical appointments required royal approval, that clergy accused of crimes could be tried in royal courts, and that the king possessed extensive powers of patronage over Church properties and revenues.
Becket initially appeared to accept the Constitutions under royal pressure, but he later repudiated them as contrary to the canons of the Church. His change of position enraged the king. Becket found his position untenable and, fearing arrest, fled England in October 1164 and sought refuge in France under the protection of King Louis VII, Henry II's rival.
Exile and attempted reconciliation
For six years (1164–1170) Becket lived in exile, primarily in the cathedral city of Sens, where he was received with honor by the French king and the Pope. During this period he worked tirelessly to maintain his position through diplomatic correspondence, appeals to Rome, and negotiations with the king. Pope Alexander III, who was himself in conflict with the Holy Roman Emperor and needed the support of secular monarchs, was cautious in his support of Becket, though he never abandoned the Archbishop.
The stalemate continued for years. Gradually, however, pressure from both the French king and the Pope, combined with political and military complications in his kingdom, led Henry II to seek a reconciliation with Becket. In 1170, negotiations led to what appeared to be a settlement. Becket agreed to return to England and the king agreed to restore him to his archbishopric and to his properties.
Return and final conflict
Becket returned to England in December 1170 with great ceremony and was received with enthusiasm by many of the English clergy. However, tensions quickly re-ignited. The king had appointed a successor to Becket (Roger of York) and had other bishops consecrated by the Archbishop of York rather than by Becket, which was a traditional privilege of the Archbishop of Canterbury. When Becket protested these irregularities and excommunicated some of the bishops involved, the king became furious.
At Christmas 1170, King Henry II, frustrated by Becket's intransigence, reportedly exclaimed in anger: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" (or words to this effect, in versions that vary in the sources). Four knights who heard or learned of the royal outburst—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton—took the king's words as an implicit command and resolved to murder the Archbishop.
Martyrdom
On the evening of December 29, 1170, the four knights arrived at Canterbury Cathedral armed and demanded that Becket submit to the king's will. Finding him at prayer in the cathedral, they attacked him. Despite his attempts to resist and despite the intervention of some of his clergy, they struck him repeatedly with their swords until he fell dead on the cathedral floor. He died praying the psalm In manus tuas, Domine ("Into thy hands, O Lord").
Canonization and veneration
The murder of the Archbishop in his own cathedral shocked all of Christendom. The four knights were excommunicated and Pope Alexander III placed England under interdict. However, the king's public penance and his promise to respect Church rights led to the lifting of the interdict. The extraordinary speed of Becket's canonization—just two years after his murder, on February 21, 1173—reflected the universal reverence in which he was held and the sense that he had died as a martyr for the defense of the Church.
The shrine of Saint Thomas at Canterbury became one of the greatest pilgrimage destinations of medieval Europe. Pilgrims traveled from throughout Christendom to venerate his relics and to pray for his intercession. The shrine was destroyed during the English Reformation, but Canterbury Cathedral remains a major center of Christian pilgrimage.
Feast day
December 29 (the date of his martyrdom; commemorated in the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church)
Veneration
Saint Thomas Becket is venerated as a martyr who defended the independence of the Church against secular encroachment. He is the patron saint of the Cathedral and Archdiocese of Canterbury, of clergy, of priests, and of the defense of ecclesiastical liberty. His life embodies the struggle between secular and ecclesiastical authority that characterized much of medieval European history. He is honored in the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and various other Christian traditions. His story inspired numerous literary works, including plays and poems, most famously T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral (1935).
Significant events
- Born in London to a merchant family; December 21, 1119
- Enters service of Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury
- Appointed Lord Chancellor by King Henry II; 1155
- Elected Archbishop of Canterbury; 1162
- Undergoes spiritual transformation; adopts ascetical life
- Disputes with King Henry II over Church rights; 1162–1164
- King Henry II imposes Constitutions of Clarendon; 1164
- Flees England to France to escape arrest; October 1164
- Lives in exile in France under the protection of King Louis VII; 1164–1170
- Negotiates reconciliation with King Henry II; 1170
- Returns to England and is received as Archbishop; December 1170
- Excommunicates bishops appointed without his consent; December 1170
- Murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights; December 29, 1170
- Canonized by Pope Alexander III; February 21, 1173
- His shrine becomes a major pilgrimage destination; 12th–16th centuries
- Shrine destroyed during the English Reformation; 1538