THE MURDER OF THOMAS BECKET A personality clash

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?

Thomas Becket 12 th 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 29 th December 1170 in the Canterbury Cathedral Canonised in 1173 – shrine important focus for pilgrimage

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” 12 th 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)