Thomas Becket: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:59, 4 July 2007

Revision as of 18:03, 4 July 2007

Line 7:

|image=Thomas_Becket_Murder.JPG

|imagesize=200px

|caption=[[13th century]] [[manuscript illumination]], an early depiction of Becket's nob [[assassination]]

|birth_place=[[London]]

|death_place=[[Canterbury]]

Line 36:

Upon returning to the [[Kingdom of England]], he attracted the notice of [[Theobald of Bec|Theobald]], archbishop of Canterbury, who entrusted him with several important missions to Rome and finally made him archdeacon of Canterbury and provost of [[Beverley]]. He so distinguished himself by his zeal and efficiency that Theobald commended him to King [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] when the important office of [[Lord Chancellor]] was vacant.

Henry, like all the nob[[Norman headdynasty|Norman]] kings, desired to be absolute ruler of his dominions, both Church and State, and could find precedents in the traditions of the throne when he planned to do away with the special privileges of the English clergy, which he regarded as fetters on his authority. As Chancellor, Becket enforced the king’s [[danegeld]] taxes, a traditional medieval land tax that was exacted from all landowners, including churches and bishoprics. This created both a hardship and a resentment of Becket among the English Churchmen. To further implicate Becket as a secular man, he became an accomplished and extravagant [[courtier]] and a cheerful companion to the king's pleasures. Young Thomas was devoted to his master's interests with such a firm and yet diplomatic thoroughness that scarcely anyone, except perhaps [[John of Salisbury]], doubted his allegiance to English royalty.

King Henry even sent his son [[Henry the Young King|Henry]], later the "Young King", to live in Becket's household, it being the custom then for noble children to be fostered out to other noble houses. Henry the Young King was reported to have said Becket showed him more fatherly love in a day than his father did for his entire life. An emotional attachment to Becket as a foster-father may have been one of the reasons the younger Henry would turn against his father.