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Becket
The quarrel between Thomas Becket and Henry II was based on the Roman church's belief that the single most important religious role of the monarchy had to be its allegiance to the Church. Thomas Becket agreed but Henry II did not.
Henry II believed that the monarch is appointed by God to rule not only that State but to protect and guide the Church. Becket believed that the government of the Church should be in the hands of the clergy and answerable to the Pope. The Church had its own allegiance and its own laws.
Becket, who as Chancellor had become Henry II's greatest friend, as Archbishop of Canterbury became his worst enemy.
The feud came to a head over the Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164. This was a written statement of Henry II's view of his customary rights over the English Church. Thomas Becket accepted the Constitutions but later rejected them and was called to trial for contempt of court by Henry II. He escaped and remained in exile in Normandy until 1170.
Thomas A Becket |
THOMAS BECKET (1120-1170)- Impressed Henry II who made him Chancellor in 1155
- Worked zealously for the King and Henry II made him Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162
- However as Archbishop Becket's loyalties became torn and he put the Church's interests above those of Henry II
- King and Archbishop quarrelled over many things but when Becket tried to reject the Constitutions of Clarendon, having previously accepted them, the King lost patience and brought him to trial
- Escaped and went into exile in Normandy
- Did not return until 1170 when Henry the Young King was anointed and declared heir to the throne by the Archbishop of York
- Claimed that only the Archbishop of Canterbury could crown kings and returned to England to punish those who had abused his rights
- Excommunicated the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of London and Salisbury
- Henry was angry and on 29th December 1170 four knights of Normandy crossed the channel and murdered Becket in Canterbury cathedral
- Formally canonised by Pope Alexander III in February 1173.
In or around 1167 English scholars were expelled from Paris and settled in Oxford thus founding Oxford University.Henry II was well educated for his times. He began his studies in Bristol. He was taught by the poet, Peter of Saintes; by the scientist, Adelard of Bath and instructed in ethics by William of Conches.
 
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| 1154 | Henry II becomes king
Nicholas Breakspear becomes Pope Adrian IV
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| 1155 | Henry receives papal bull to conquer and rule Ireland
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| 1162 | Thomas Becket becomes archbishop of Canterbury
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| 1164 | Constitutions of Clarendon are issued
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| 1165 | William I, the Lion, of Scots
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| 1170 | Richard de Clare invades Ireland
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| 1177 | Henry II's youngest son, John, is made lord of Ireland
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| 1183 | Henry the Young King dies
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| 1189 | Henry is defeated by his son Richard and Philip II Augustus of France
Richard I, the Lionheart, becomes king
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| POPES OF THE TIME | | • | John XII |
| • | Leo IX |
| • | Gregory VII |
| • | Urban II |
| • | Adrian IV |
| • | Alexander III |
| • | Innocent III |
| • | Gregory XIII |
| • | Gregory IX |
| • | Innocent VI |
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