On This Day in History: December 29
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, meets and untimely end
Subscribers can listen to the audio of today’s post here.
Government and religion often are in cahoots. Rulers make laws that are favorable to the state religion, and in turn that religion says to the people hey God said this king has a divine right to rule your peasant asses. More or less. But sometimes there are power struggles. In the case of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, it proved fatal.
--On This Day in History, Shit Went Down: December 29, 1170--
Becket was born around 1120 in Cheapside, London. That doesn’t mean it was an inexpensive place to live, but rather was taken from old English meaning marketplace. His parents were merchant class and could afford to see their son educated. He eventually attained the station of Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162.
Becket and King Henry II had been best friends. Back when Becket was Chancellor of England the pair were hunting buddies, and they often traveled together and played chess. Becket had been a longshot for the archbishop role, but Henry pushed for it because it would strengthen his own position having his buddy in the position. See, the church had its own courts and laws with their “true allegiance being to God” kinda shit. Henry wanted to exert his authority over them. Henry also wanted Becket to retain his position as Chancellor because why not have a friend in two powerful positions to make Henry an even more powerful king? Continues below …
I wish to be an even more powerful … author? Sure. That means … money? Okay. Please become a paying subscriber.
But donning the archbishop robes seemed to initiate a religious epiphany in Becket. He resigned his role as Chancellor, a move that really pissed off Henry, and began to side with the church against Henry, saying it was above the law. By 1164 the relationship had gone to shit; Becket was accused of being a traitor and ordered to forfeit his possessions. Becket said fuck you and noped out to France.
Becket remained in exile for six years, during which time Henry flexed his power back in England. As a fuck you to Becket, in 1170 Henry decided to have his son crowned as king by the Archbishop of York, a sworn enemy of Becket. This was a breach of protocol, as coronation was a privilege of Canterbury. Becket bitched to the pope and the pope said you two need to get along. Henry said okay all is forgiven you can come home and be archbishop again. But Becket was still pissed, and as a fuck you right back he excommunicated the Archbishop of York, along with two other bishops who participated in the coronation, prior to leaving France.
When he learned of the excommunication Henry was majorly pissed. It’s uncertain exactly what he said, but it was interpreted as “someone please waste this motherfucker for me.” He didn’t mean it, but four knights took Henry literally and traveled to Canterbury where they hacked Becket to death in his own church. The pope made Becket a saint three years later, one of the fastest canonizations in history. Becket became a symbol of resistance to unchecked authority and Canterbury Cathedral became a popular religious pilgrimage site.
Support keeping this daily column free and get access to subscriber only content:
Get the book On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down.