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Name:
St. Thomas Becket
Thomas à Becket
Dates:
Born: c. 1110 in London
Died: December 29, 1170
Archbishop of Canterbury: June 3, 1162
Fled England: November 2, 1164
Returned to England: December 2, 1170
Canonized: 1173
Biography:
Thomas Becket originally studied in Paris, but he returned to England to work
first as an assistant to the archbishop of Canterbury and then later as the
king's chancellor. With some reluctance he allowed King Henry II to install
him as Archbishop of Canterbury. Eventually resigned his post as king's
chancellor in order to live a more spiritually pure life, something which would
lead him into open conflict with the king.
Of particular concern for the king was Becket's insistence on rendering the church independent of all civil control and authority. Once Henry understood where Becket was going, he called a meeting of clergy and demanded that they abandon all such efforts - but Becket and many clergy remained firm. He was charged with treason and Becket fled to France for sanctuary.
After he returned, four knights (Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracey, and Richard le Breton) came to believe that it was the king's will that Becket be eliminated, so they proceeded to kill him right near the altar of Canterbury Cathedral. Becket, however, would come to be revered as a martyr and he was canonized by Pope Alexander in 1173
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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