Murder of Thomas Becket
Canterbury Cathedral
What happened
Thomas Becket had been King Henry II's friend and top official. After he became Archbishop of Canterbury, the two argued over how much power the king should have over the Church. On 29 December 1170, four of the king's knights came to Canterbury Cathedral to confront him, and Becket was killed inside the cathedral.
Why it matters
People across Europe were shocked, and Henry II made a public apology to the Church. Becket became one of the best-known saints of the Middle Ages, and Canterbury became one of Europe's most popular places of pilgrimage.
What came next
Pope Alexander III declared Becket a saint on 21 February 1173. On 12 July 1174 Henry II did public penance at his tomb. The shrine drew pilgrims for centuries, until King Henry VIII had it destroyed in 1538.
Did you know?
Geoffrey Chaucer's book The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Becket's shrine in Canterbury Cathedral.
Timeline
- 1162Henry II makes his chancellor, Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.
- 1164Henry presents the Constitutions of Clarendon, rules about the Church's rights. Becket refuses to sign, is convicted of contempt at Northampton, and goes into exile in France.
- 29 December 1170Becket is killed in Canterbury Cathedral after returning to England.
- 21 February 1173Pope Alexander III declares Becket a saint.