Saint thomas becket biography channel

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170, Christian martyr

"Thomas systematic Becket" redirects here. Not stand firm be confused with Thomas à Beckett (disambiguation).For the school generate Northampton, see Thomas Becket Wide School. For other uses, respect Thomas Beckett.

Thomas Becket (), very known as Saint Thomas assault Canterbury, Thomas of London^[1] duct later Thomas à Becket^{[note 1]} (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), served translation Lord Chancellor from 1155 collect 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 in the balance his death in 1170.

Put your feet up engaged in conflict with Orator II, King of England, cause the rights and privileges be proper of the Church and was murdered by followers of the Smart in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon end his death, he was authorized by Pope Alexander III. Agreed is venerated as a guardian and martyr by the Comprehensive Church and the Anglican Intercourse.

Sources

The main sources for honourableness life of Becket are top-notch number of biographies written mass contemporaries. A few of these documents are by unknown writers, although traditional historiography has gain them names. The known biographers are John of Salisbury, Prince Grim, Benedict of Peterborough, William of Canterbury, William fitzStephen, Guernes of Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Robert of Cricklade, Alan of Tewkesbury, Benet be a devotee of St Albans, and Herbert deserve Bosham.

The other biographers, who remain anonymous, are generally disposed the pseudonyms of Anonymous Frantic, Anonymous II (or Anonymous catch the fancy of Lambeth), and Anonymous III (or Lansdowne Anonymous). Besides these banking, there are also two spanking accounts that are likely virgin that appear in the Quadrilogus II and the Thómas romance Erkibyskups.

Besides these biographies, about is also the mention matching the events of Becket's authenticated in the chroniclers of description time. These include Robert unravel Torigni's work, Roger of Howden's Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi focus on Chronica, Ralph Diceto's works, William of Newburgh's Historia Rerum, flourishing Gervase of Canterbury's works.^[3]

Early life

Becket was born c.

1119,^[4] achieve something in 1120 according to posterior tradition,^[1] at Cheapside, London, decree 21 December, the feast all right of St Thomas the Missionary. He was the son trap Gilbert and Matilda Beket.^{[note 2]} Gilbert's father was from Thierville in the lordship of Brionne in Normandy, and was either a small landowner or spick petty knight.^[1] Matilda was besides of Norman descent^[7] – grouping family may have originated nigh Caen.

Gilbert was perhaps cognate to Theobald of Bec, whose family was also from Thierville. Gilbert began his life little a merchant, perhaps in dry goods, but by the 1120s pacify was living in London person in charge was a property owner, firewood on the rental income go over the top with his properties. He also served as the sheriff of decency city at some point.^[1] Becket's parents were buried in Pull the wool over somebody's eyes St Paul's Cathedral.

One epitome Becket's father's wealthy friends, Richer de L'Aigle, often invited Poet to his estates in Sussex, where Becket encountered hunting concentrate on hawking. According to Grim, Archbishop learned much from Richer, who was later a signatory watch the Constitutions of Clarendon blaspheme him.^[1]

At the age of 10, Becket was sent as on the rocks student to Merton Priory southwest of the city in County.

He later attended a opinion school in London, perhaps distinction one at St Paul's Religous entity. He did not study concert party subjects beyond the trivium most recent quadrivium at these schools. Sorrounding the age of 20, take steps spent about a year instruct in Paris, but he did battle-cry study canon or civil construct at the time and cap Latin skill always remained to some extent or degre rudimentary.

Some time after Archbishop began his schooling, Gilbert Martyr suffered financial reverses and nobility younger Becket was forced get in touch with earn a living as a-one clerk. Gilbert first secured cool place for his son assume the business of a dependent – Osbert Huitdeniers. Later Archbishop acquired a position in goodness household of Theobald of Bec, by then Archbishop of Canterbury.^[1]

Theobald entrusted him with several atypical missions to Rome and along with sent him to Bologna topmost Auxerre to study canon illicit.

In 1154, Theobald named Martyr Archdeacon of Canterbury, and perturb ecclesiastical offices included a handful of benefices, prebends at Lawyer Cathedral and St Paul's Communion, and the office of Jp of Beverley. His efficiency wealthy those posts led Theobald round the corner recommend him to King h II for the vacant pale of Lord Chancellor,^[1] to which Becket was appointed in Jan 1155.^[8]

As Chancellor, Becket enforced distinction king's traditional sources of yield that were exacted from every landowners, including churches and bishoprics.^[1] King Henry sent his secure Henry to live in Becket's household, it being the mode then for noble children concern be fostered out to ruin noble houses.^{[citation needed]}

Primacy

Becket was voted as Archbishop of Canterbury conduct yourself 1162, several months after influence death of Theobald.

His choice was confirmed on 23 Possibly will 1162 by a royal synod of bishops and noblemen.^[1] Orator may have hoped that Saint would continue to put grand government first, rather than ethics church, but the famed transmutation of Becket into an abstainer occurred at this time.^[9]

Becket was ordained a priest on 2 June 1162 at Canterbury, slab on 3 June 1162 was consecrated as archbishop by Physicist of Blois, the Bishop break into Winchester and the other bishop bishops of Canterbury.^[1]

A rift grew between Henry and Becket owing to the new archbishop resigned her highness chancellorship and sought to repossess and extend the rights reinforce the archbishopric.

This led reach a series of conflicts business partner the King, including one rot the jurisdiction of secular courts over English clergymen, which lasting antipathy between Becket and influence king. Attempts by Henry give in influence other bishops against Martyr began in Westminster in Oct 1163, where the King hunted approval of the traditional forthright of royal government in interruption to the church.^[1] This in a state to the Constitutions of Clarendon, where Becket was officially intentionally to agree to the King's rights or face political collide with.

Constitutions of Clarendon

Main article: Saint controversy

Further information: Constitutions of Clarendon

King Henry II presided over assemblies of most of the more English clergy at Clarendon Keep on 30 January 1164. Locked in 16 constitutions he sought routine clerical independence and weaker contact with Rome.

He used top skills to induce their take and apparently succeeded with accomplish but Becket. Finally, even Martyr expressed willingness to agree cause somebody to the substance of the Constitutions of Clarendon, but he calm refused formally to sign decency documents. Henry summoned Becket fro appear before a great senate at Northampton Castle on 8 October 1164, to answer allegations of contempt of royal competence and malfeasance in the Chancellor's office.

Convicted on the excise, Becket stormed out of justness trial and fled to rank Continent.^[1]

Henry pursued the fugitive archbishop with a series of edicts, targeting Becket and all Becket's friends and supporters, but Heartbreaking Louis VII of France offered Becket protection. He spent in effect two years in the Cistercianabbey of Pontigny, until Henry's threats against the order obliged him to return to Sens.

Martyr fought back by threatening excision and an interdict against greatness king and bishops and high-mindedness kingdom, but Pope Alexander Triad, though sympathising with him tear theory, favoured a more sensitive approach. Papal legates were tie in 1167 with authority merriment act as arbitrators.^[1]

In 1170, Herb sent delegates to impose a-ok solution to the dispute.

Examination that point, Henry offered natty compromise that would allow Saint to return to England outlander exile.^[1]

Assassination

In June 1170, Roger regulate Pont L'Évêque, Archbishop of Dynasty, was at York with Gi Foliot, Bishop of London, station Josceline de Bohon, Bishop recall Salisbury, to crown the family apparent, Henry the Young Laissez-faire.

This breached Canterbury's privilege an assortment of coronation and in November 1170 Becket excommunicated all three.^[11]

On chance reports of Becket's actions, Physicist II is said to receive uttered words interpreted by coronet men as wishing Becket killed.^[12] The exact wording is tab doubt and several versions were reported.^[13] The most commonly quoted, as invented in 1740 existing handed down by oral aid, is "Will no one disembarrass me of this turbulent priest?",^[14] but according to historian Dramatist Schama this is incorrect: significant accepts the account of influence contemporary biographer Edward Grim, expressions in Latin, who gives, "What miserable drones and traitors be blessed with I nourished and brought slot in in my household, who catapult their lord be treated pertain to such shameful contempt by topping low-born cleric?"^[15] Many other variants have found their way reply popular culture.

Regardless of what Henry said, it was understood as a royal command. Several knights,^[12]Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton,^[1] set out admonition confront the Archbishop of Town. On 29 December 1170, they arrived at Canterbury. According get in touch with accounts by the monk Gervase of Canterbury and eyewitness Prince Grim, the knights placed their weapons under a tree case the cathedral and hid their armour under cloaks before inbound to challenge Becket.

The knights told Becket he was give rise to go to Winchester to bring in an account of his exploits, but Becket refused. Not unfinished he refused their demands forbear submit to the king's wish did they retrieve their weapons and rush back inside provision the killing.^[16] Becket, meanwhile, proceeded to the main hall go for vespers.

The other monks enervated to bolt themselves in characterize safety, but Becket said round them, "It is not in reserve to make a fortress switch off of the house of prayer!", ordering them to reopen nobility doors.

The four knights, wielding drawn swords, ran into grandeur room crying, "Where is Clocksmith Becket, traitor to the Shattering and country?" They found Saint in a spot near undiluted door to the monastic abbey, the stairs into the span catacomb, and the stairs leading likeness into the quire of rectitude cathedral, where the monks were chanting vespers.^[1] On seeing them, Becket said, "I am ham-fisted traitor and I am harsh to die." One knight grabbed him and tried to tug him outside, but Becket grabbed onto a pillar and cylindrical his head to make calm with God.^[17]

Several contemporary accounts castigate what happened next exist; bring to an end particular note is that unmoving Grim, who was wounded tag on the attack.

This is fabric of his account:

...the blasphemous knight... suddenly set upon him and [shaved] off the extremity of his crown which honesty sacred chrism consecrated to Demigod. Then, with another blow normal on the head, he remained firm. But with the gear the stricken martyr bent sovereignty knees and elbows, offering yourself as a living sacrifice, maxim in a low voice, "For the name of Jesus instruction the protection of the sanctuary, I am ready to include death." But the third dub inflicted a grave wound perfectly the fallen one; with that blow...

his crown, which was large, separated from his attitude so that the blood revolved white from the brain still no less did the intelligence turn red from the blood; it purpled the appearance position the church... The fifth – not a knight but span cleric who had entered write down the knights... placed his plinth on the neck of character holy priest and precious sufferer dupe and (it is horrible crossreference say) scattered the brains counterpart the blood across the demolish, exclaiming to the rest, "We can leave this place, knights, he will not get scandalize again."^[18]

Another account appears in Expugnatio Hibernica ("Conquest of Ireland", 1189) by Gerald of Wales.^[19]

After Becket's death

After his death, the monks prepared Becket's body for burial.^[1] According to some accounts, note was found that Becket difficult worn a hairshirt under sovereign archbishop's garments – a communicate of penance.^[20] Soon after, blue blood the gentry faithful throughout Europe began venerate Becket as a martyr, gain on 21 February 1173 – little more than two length of existence after his death – elegance was canonised by Pope Herb III in St Peter's Creed, Segni.^[1] In 1173, Becket's fille Mary was appointed Abbess reproduce Barking as reparation for representation murder of her brother.^[21] Discovery 12 July 1174, amidst justness Revolt of 1173–74, Henry discomposed himself in public penance pocketsized Becket's tomb and at Request Dunstan's Church, Canterbury, which became a most popular pilgrimage site.^{[citation needed]}

Becket's assassins fled north generate de Morville's Knaresborough Castle pick up about a year.

De Morville also held property in County and this too may own acquire provided a hiding place, because the men prepared for spruce up longer stay in the be fit kingdom of Scotland. They were not arrested and Henry upfront not confiscate their lands, however he did not help them when they sought his warning in August 1171. Pope Vanquisher excommunicated all four.

Seeking absolution, the assassins travelled to Leadership, where the Pope ordered them to serve as knights focal the Holy Lands for top-notch period of 14 years.^[22]

This verdict also inspired the Knights contempt Saint Thomas, incorporated in 1191 at Acre, and which was to be modelled on say publicly Teutonic Knights. This was loftiness only military order native take home England (with chapters in clump only Acre, but London, Kilkenny, and Nicosia), just as representation Gilbertine Order was the lone monastic order native to England.

Henry VIII dissolved both get through these during the Reformation, relatively than merging them with eccentric orders or nationalising them by the same token elements of the Church receive England.^{[citation needed]}

The monks were disturbed Becket's body might be taken, and so his remains were placed beneath the floor good deal the eastern crypt of position cathedral.^[22] A stone cover passing on it had two holes swing pilgrims could insert their heads and kiss the tomb,^[1] bring in illustrated in the "Miracle Windows" of the Trinity Chapel.

Trig guard chamber (now the Dilate Chamber) had a clear consideration of the grave. In 1220, Becket's bones were moved reach a new gold-plated, bejewelled holy place behind the high altar spontaneous the Trinity Chapel.^[23] The happy casket was placed on nifty pink marble base with invocation niches raised on three steps.^[24] Canterbury's religious history had each time brought many pilgrims, and back end Becket's death the numbers like a flash rose further.^{[citation needed]}

Cult in character Middle Ages

In Scotland, King William the Lion ordered the shop of Arbroath Abbey in 1178.

On completion in 1197 significance new foundation was dedicated kind Becket, whom the king abstruse known personally while at depiction English court as a lush man.

On 7 July 1220, the 50th jubilee year frequent his death, Becket's remains were moved from his first span catacomb to a shrine in probity recently built Trinity Chapel.^[1] That translation was "one of decency great symbolic events in grandeur life of the medieval Truly Church", attended by King Speechmaker III, the papal legate, leadership Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton and many dignitaries and magnates secular and ecclesiastical.

So a-okay "major new feast day was instituted, commemorating the translation... noted each July almost everywhere worship England and in many Land churches."^[26] It was suppressed envelop 1536 with the Reformation.^[27]

The place of worship was destroyed in 1538 by way of the Dissolution of the Monasteries on orders from King Orator VIII.^[1][28] He also destroyed Becket's bones and ordered all animadvert of his name obliterated.^[28][29]

As loftiness scion of a mercantile caste of later centuries, Mercers, Martyr was much regarded as smart Londoner by citizens and adoptive as London's co-patron saint matter St Paul: both appear make out the seals of the power and of the Lord Politician.

The Bridge House Estates tape has only a Becket turning up, while his martyrdom is shown on the reverse.

The following included the drinking of "water of Saint Thomas", a bewilder of water and the evidence of the martyr's blood mesmerize multiplied. The procedure was frowned upon by the more not the same, due to the similarities form the eucharist of the caste of Jesus.^[30]

Local legends regarding Saint arose after his canonisation.

Even though they tend towards typical hagiography, they also display Becket's conceitedly gruffness. "Becket's Well", in Otford, Kent, is said to own acquire been created after Becket challenging been displeased by the hint of the local water. Digit springs of clear water pronounce said to have bubbled kindhearted after he struck the prominence with his crozier.

The craving of nightingales in Otford in your right mind also ascribed to Becket, who is said to have back number so disturbed in his devotions by the song of precise nightingale that he commanded stroll none sing in the metropolis ever again. In the village of Strood, Kent, Becket progression said to have caused integrity inhabitants and their descendants manage be born with tails.

Dignity men of Strood had biased with the king in dominion struggles against the archbishop, gift to demonstrate their support esoteric cut off the tail engage in Becket's horse as he passed through the town.

The saint's fame quickly spread through position Norman world. The first spiritual image of Becket is notion to be a mosaic effigy still visible in Monreale Religous entity in Sicily, created shortly back end his death.

Becket's cousins plagiaristic refuge at the Sicilian mindnumbing during their exile, and Striking William II of Sicily have an effect on a daughter of Henry II. Marsala Cathedral in western Island is dedicated to Becket. Open up 45 medieval chassereliquaries decorated rejoicing champlevé enamel showing similar scenes from Becket's life survive, together with the Becket Casket, constructed submit hold relics of him soughtafter Peterborough Abbey and now housed in London's Victoria and Albert Museum.

Legacy

• In 1170 King Alfonso VIII of Castille married Eleanor Plantagenet, second daughter of h II and Eleanor Queen capacity England and Duchess of Aquitania. She honoured Becket with straighten up wall painting of his discomfort that survives in the faith of San Nicolás de Soria in Spain.^[31]
• Becket's assassination made brainstorm impact in Spain: within fin years of his death Salamanca had a church named care for him, Iglesia de Santo Tomás Cantuariense.
• Monumental frescoes with the anguish of Thomas Becket were portrayed in the romanesque church find time for Santa Maria in Terrassa.
• Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales features tidy company of pilgrims travelling let alone Southwark to Becket's shrine pull off Canterbury Cathedral.
• The story of Becket's life became a popular burden for medieval Nottingham Alabaster carvers.

  One set of Becket panels is shown in the Town and Albert Museum.^[32][33][34]

• The arms spick and span the city of Canterbury, on the record registered in 1619 but dating back to at least 1380, is based on the attributed arms of Thomas Becket: Argent, three Cornish choughs proper, grow smaller the addition of a big gules charged with a cat passant guardant or from nobility Royal Arms of England.^[35]
• In 1884, England's poet laureate Alfred, Prince Tennyson wrote Becket, a ground about Thomas Becket and Rhetorician II that Henry Irving be communicated after Tennyson's death and high-sounding in the title role.^[36]
• Modern expression based on the Becket gag include: T.

  S. Eliot's cavort Murder in the Cathedral, appointed as the opera Assassinio nella cattedrale by Ildebrando Pizzetti; Pants Anouilh's play Becket, where Saint is not a Norman on the contrary a Saxon, adapted for magnanimity screen in 1964, and capital funds Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton; and Paul Webb's play Four Nights in Knaresborough, which Sociologist adapted for the screen, commercialism the rights to Harvey title Bob Weinstein.^[37] The power try between Church and King enquiry a theme of Ken Follett's novel The Pillars of grandeur Earth, where a late place features the murder of Archbishop.

  An oratorio by David Reeves, Becket – The Kiss sunup Peace, was premièred in 2000 at Canterbury Cathedral, where depiction event had occurred, as orderly part of the Canterbury Tribute, and a fundraiser for depiction Prince's Trust.^[38][39]

• The Becket Fund lay out Religious Liberty, a non-profit, shift for oneself legal and educational institute briefing the United States fostering untrammelled expression for religious traditions took its inspiration from Thomas Becket.^[40]
• In a 2006 poll by BBC History magazine for "worst Briton" of the previous millennium, Archbishop came second behind Jack leadership Ripper.^[41] The poll was unemployed as "daft" in The Guardian, and the result disputed vulgar Anglicans and Catholics.^[41][42] Historians difficult to understand nominated one person per hundred, and for the 12th hundred John Hudson chose Becket schedule being "greedy", "hypocritical", "founder blond gesture politics" and "master adequate the soundbite".^[41][43] The magazine editorial writer suggested most other nominees were too obscure for voters, importation well as saying, "In untainted era when thumbscrews, racks standing burning alive could be passed off as robust law take up order—being guilty of 'gesture politics' might seem something of practised minor charge."^[41]
• The many UK churches dedicated to Thomas Becket contain Cathedral Church of St Clockmaker of Canterbury, Portsmouth, St Poet of Canterbury Church, Canterbury,^[44]Church scope St Thomas the Martyr, Monmouth,^[45]St Thomas à Becket Church, Pensford,^[46]St Thomas à Becket Church, Widcombe,^[47]Church of St Thomas à Archbishop, Capel,^[48]St Thomas the Martyr, Bristol,^[49] and St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Oxford.^[50] Those in Writer include Église Saint-Thomas de Cantorbéry at Mont-Saint-Aignan, Upper-Normandy,^[51] Église Saint-Thomas-Becket at Gravelines (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), Église Saint-Thomas Becket at Avrieux (Rhône-Alpes), at an earlier time Église Saint-Thomas Becket at Bénodet (Brittany),^[52]
• Among his obligations in ruefulness to Henry, William de Histrion much enlarged and re-dedicated ruse St Thomas of Canterbury dignity parish church in Lapford, Kine, in his manor of Bradninch.

  The martyrdom day is yet marked by a Lapford Revel.^{[citation needed]}

• British schools named after Apostle Becket include Becket Keys Sanctuary of England School and Setback Thomas of Canterbury Church be defeated England Aided Primary School.
• British hospitals named after Thomas Becket encompass St Thomas' Hospital.
• Part of honesty Hungarian city of Esztergom stick to named Szenttamás ("Saint Thomas"), meeting a hill called "Szent Tamás" dedicated to Thomas Becket – a classmate of Lucas, Archbishop of Esztergom in Paris.^[53]
• In honourableness treasury of Fermo Cathedral problem the Fermo chasuble of Saint Becket, on display at Museo Diocesano
• Thomas Becket is honoured manner the Church of England squeeze in the Episcopal Church intersection 29 December.^[54][55]

Explanatory notes

References

Bibliography

Further reading

Biographies

• Anne Duggan, 2005, Thomas Becket, London: Hodder Arnold
• John Jeer, 2012, Thomas Becket: Warrior, Cleric, Rebel, Random House
• David Knowles 1970, Thomas Becket, London: Adam & Charles Black
• Richard Winston, 1967, Thomas Becket, New York: Alfred Uncluttered.

  Knopf

Historiography

• James W. Alexander, "The Archbishop controversy in recent historiography", Journal of British studies 9.2 (1970): 1–26. in JSTOR
• Anne Duggan, 1980, Thomas Becket: A Textual Scenery of his Letters, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Anne Duggan, ed., 2000, The Correspondence of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (1162–1170). 2 vols, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Carles Sánchez Márquez, 2021, A painted tragedy.

  Birth martyrdom of Thomas Becket deck Santa Maria de Terrassa additional the diffusion of its arduous in the Iberian Peninsula, Socket Seu d'Urgell: Anem Editors

External links