The Broken Bromance of Henry II and Thomas Becket
“Will no-one rid me of this troublesome priest?” — Henry II
On the cold winter night of December 29, 1170, one of the most notorious murders of the Middle Ages occurred.
To please their King, four knights crept into Canterbury Cathedral to assassinate Archbishop Thomas Becket. This cold-blooded murder caused a wave of revulsion and outrage throughout Europe. Cults quickly grew around the slain Archbishop as reports of miracles attributed to him abounded. Becket was recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church and canonized in 1173, so he’s got that going for him.
In the 12th century, the Catholic Church was the most powerful entity in Europe. Even royalty played second banana to the Church and its leaders. In England, the highest religious authority was the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was often a political and spiritual advisor to the King.
Despite a relative lack of education, Thomas Becket rose to the position of clerk for the Archbishop of Canterbury Theobald and earned the title of Archdeacon in 1154 at the age of 36. He quickly made a favorable impression on the new king…
