Saint Thomas Becket
Archbishop of Canterbury
Thirteenth century manuscript illumination, an early depiction of Becket's assassination
Enthroned	1162-06-03
Ended	December 29, 1170
Predecessor	Theobald of Bec
Successor	Richard of Dover
Born	c. An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Theobald ( Tedbald) (died 18 April 1161 was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1139 to 1161 Richard (died 1184 was a medieval Benedictine monk and Archbishop of Canterbury. 1118 Cheapside, London
Died	December 29, 1170 (aged 52) Canterbury
Buried	Canterbury Cathedral

Sainthood
Bishop and Martyr
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion
Beatified	February 21, 1173
Major shrine	Canterbury Cathedral
Commemorated	December 21
Attributes	Sword, Martyrdom, dressed in chancellor's robe and neck chain
Patronage	Exeter College, Oxford; Portsmouth; Arbroath Abbey; secular clergy
Controversy	argumentative
Saints Portal

Saint Thomas Becket, St. Cheapside is a street in Cheap ward of the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street Cornhill London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a In the Catholic Church, a Bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the priesthood. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom In Christianity, veneration ( Latin veneratio, Greek &delta&omicron&upsilon&lambda&iota&alpha dulia) or veneration of saints See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the 4th oldest college of the University History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which Arbroath Abbey was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. Thomas of Canterbury, (c. 1118 – December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches He engaged in conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a

He is also commonly known as Thomas à Becket, although this form may not have been contemporaneous. The "à" is now believed to be a complete error. Historian John Strype wrote in his Memorials of Thomas Cranmer (1694): "It is a small error, but being so oft repeated deserveth to be observed into corrected. John Strype ( November 1, 1643 - December 11, 1737) was an English Historian and Biographer. The name of that archbishop was Thomas Becket. If the vulgar did formerly, as it doth now, call him 'Thomas à Becket' their mistake is not to be followed by learned men. " Notwithstanding, the Oxford Dictionary of English, the New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors and Chambers Biographical Dictionary all prefer St. The Oxford Dictionary of English (formerly The New Oxford Dictionary of English, often abbreviated to NODE is a single-volume English language Thomas à Becket.

Early life

Thomas Becket was born around 1118 in Cheapside, London, to Gilbert of Thierceville, Normandy, and Matilda (with a familiar name of Roheise or Rosea) of Caen. Cheapside is a street in Cheap ward of the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street Cornhill Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. Caen (kɑ̃ is a commune in northwestern France. It is the Prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the ^[1] His parents were of the upper-middle class near Rouen, and were buried in Old St. Paul's Cathedral. Rouen (ʁwɑ̃ in French) is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital There is a story that Thomas's mother had been a Saracen princess who had met and fallen in love with his English father whilst he was on Crusade or pilgrimage in the Holy Land, followed him home, was baptised and then married him. Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam. This story has no truth to it,^[2] and its origin is unknown.

One of Thomas's father's rich friends, Richer de L'Aigle, was attracted to Thomas's sisters. He often invited Thomas to his estates in Sussex. Sussex is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. There, Thomas learned to ride a horse, hunt, behave like a gentleman, and engage in popular sports such as jousting. Beginning when he was 10, Becket received an excellent education in civil and canon law at Merton Priory in England, and then overseas at Paris, Bologna, and Auxerre. Merton Priory was founded in 1114 by Gilbert Norman Sheriff of Surrey under Henry I. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Bologna (boloɲa from Latin Bononia, Bulåggna in Bolognese dialect is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy Auxerre (pronounced) is a commune in the Bourgogne region of north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. Richer was later a signatory at the Constitutions of Clarendon against Thomas. The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures passed by Henry II of England in 1164.

Upon returning to the Kingdom of England, he attracted the notice of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, who entrusted him with several important missions to Rome and finally made him Archdeacon of Canterbury and Provost of Beverley. The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally Theobald ( Tedbald) (died 18 April 1161 was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1139 to 1161 Beverley is a Market town, Civil parish and the County town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River He so distinguished himself by his zeal and efficiency that Theobald recommended him to King Henry II when the important office of Lord Chancellor was vacant. The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom.

Henry, like all the 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. Norman dynasty is the usual designation for the English monarchs which immediately followed the Norman conquest and lasted until the Plantagenet dynasty As Chancellor, Becket enforced the king’s 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. A courtier is a person who attends the court of a Monarch or other powerful person. Thomas was devoted to Henry's interests with such a firm and yet diplomatic thoroughness that scarcely anyone, except perhaps John of Salisbury, doubted his allegiance to English royalty. John of Salisbury (c 1120 &ndash 1180 English author diplomat and Bishop of Chartres, was born at Salisbury.

King Henry even sent his son Henry 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 ( 28 February 1155 – 11 June 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine The younger Henry 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.

Primacy

Thomas achieved his final position of power as the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, several months after the death of Theobald. Henry intended to further his influence by directing the actions of Thomas, his loyal appointee, and diminish the independence and affluence of the Church in England. The famous transformation of Becket into an ascetic occurred at this time. Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. The hagiographers of the Saint portray his virtuous behaviour variously as (a) already part of his daily life (e. Hagiography ( is the study of Saints. A hagiography, from Greek (hağios (ἅγιος "holy" or "saint" and graphē (γραφή g. hair shirts worn under his courtier clothes) or (b) driven to devotion by Henry's lustful design or (c) motivated by self-interest and his own power grab. Most accounts of Thomas's early days as Archbishop were written after his death and were likely influenced by the political environment that existed then. The implications of Thomas's canonisation for the Pope as well as the King translated to real political gain or loss for each.

A rift grew between Henry and Thomas as the new Archbishop dropped his Chancellorship and consolidated the landed revenues of Canterbury under his control. So began a series of legal conflicts, such as the jurisdiction of secular courts over English clergy, which accelerated antipathy between the two great offices. Attempts by King Henry to foment the opinion and influence of the other Bishoprics against Thomas began in Westminster in October 1163, where the King sought approval of stated royal privileges. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church This led to Clarendon, where Thomas was officially asked to sign off on the King’s rights or face political repercussions.

The Constitutions of Clarendon

For more details on this topic, see Constitutions of Clarendon. The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures passed by Henry II of England in 1164.

Depiction of Thomas Becket's assassination and funeral, from a French casket made about 1180 for Prior Benedict — a witness to the murder — to take some of the saint's relics to Peterborough Abbey when he became Abbot there

King Henry II presided over the assemblies at Clarendon Palace on January 30, 1164. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial Peterborough Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter St Paul and St Andrew, is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, is dedicated to Saint Peter Clarendon Palace is a Medieval ruin in Wiltshire, England. The palace was a royal residence during the Middle Ages. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain In sixteen constitutions, he sought less clerical independence and a weaker connection with Rome. He employed all his skills to induce their consent and was apparently successful with all but the Primate. Primate (from the Latin Primus, "first" is a title or rank bestowed on some Bishops in certain Christian churches

Finally even Becket expressed his willingness to agree to the substance of the Constitutions of Clarendon; but he still refused to formally sign the documents. The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures passed by Henry II of England in 1164. This meant war between the two powers. Henry summoned Becket to appear before a great council at Northampton Castle on October 8, 1164, to answer allegations of contempt of royal authority and malfeasance in the Lord Chancellor's office. Northampton Castle was built under the stewardship of Simon de Senlis, the first Earl of Northampton, in 1084. Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom. Convicted on the charges, Becket stormed out of the trial and fled to Europe.

Henry pursued the fugitive archbishop with a series of edicts, aimed at all his friends and supporters as well as Becket himself; but Louis VII of France received him with respect and offered him protection. Louis VII, called the Younger or the Young (Louis le Jeune 1120 – 18 September 1180) was King of France, the son and successor He spent nearly two years in the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny, until Henry's threats against the order obliged him to move to Sens again. Pontigny Abbey, founded in 1114 as the second of the four great daughter houses of Cîteaux Abbey, was a Cistercian monastery situated on the River Serein

Becket sought to exercise the prerogatives of the Church, particularly the weapons of excommunication and interdict. Excommunication is a religious Censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community In the Roman Catholic Church, the word interdict (in’tér-dikt usually refers to an Ecclesiastical penalty But Pope Alexander III, though sympathising with him in theory, favoured a more diplomatic approach. Pope Alexander III (c 1100/1105 &ndash August 30, 1181) born Rolando (or Orlando) Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 Differences thus arose between Pope and Archbishop, which became even more bitter when legates were sent in 1167 with authority to act as arbitrators. Disregarding this limitation on his jurisdiction, Becket continued to reject any limitations on the rights of his order.

His firmness seemed about to meet with its reward when in 1170 the Pope was on the point of fulfilling his threats and excommunicating the entire population of England. At that point Henry, alarmed by the prospect, held out hopes of an agreement that would allow Thomas to return to England and resume his place. Even though both men met at a wooded area outside of Paris and negotiated with an apparent reconciliation Becket refused to compromise on any issue whatsoever and thus even re-affirmed the Church's authority with even more stridency and obstinacy on his return to England, through excommunicating those who had stood with Henry. Soon word of this reached Henry who was in Normandy at the time.

Assassination

A Seal of the Abbot of Arbroath, depicting the murder of St. A seal can mean a wax seal bearing an impressed figure or an embossed figure in paper with the purpose of authenticating a document but the term can also mean any device for Abbot of Arbroath (and later Commendator was the head of the Tironensian Benedictine monastic community of Arbroath Abbey, Angus, Scotland Arbroath or Aberbrothock ( Scottish Gaelic: Obair Bhrothaig which translates literally as 'at the mouth of the Brothock' is a former Royal burgh Thomas. Arbroath Abbey was founded 8 years after the death of St. Arbroath Abbey was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. Thomas and dedicated to him; it became the wealthiest abbey in Scotland.

After these latest venomous reports of Becket's activities, Henry is reported to have raised his head from his sickbed and roared a lament of frustration. What the King's exact words were are in doubt, and several versions have been reported:

• "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
• "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?"
• "Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?"
• "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?"
• "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"
• "Will no one revenge me of the injuries I have sustained from one turbulent priest?"
• "Will none of the knaves eating my bread rid me of this turbulent priest?"
• "What a band of loathsome vipers I have nursed in my bosom who will let their lord be insulted by this low-born cleric!"
• "What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and brought up in my household, who let their Lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?" ^[3]

Whatever the King said, it was interpreted as a royal command, and four knights, Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracy, and Richard Brito, set out to consult the Archbishop of Canterbury. Reginald FitzUrse (died 1173 was one of the four Knights who murdered Thomas Becket. Hugh de Morville (died c 1202 was an Anglo-Norman knight who served King Henry II of England in the late 12th century Sir William de Tracy, Knt (died c1189 was Lord of the Manor of Toddington Gloucestershire, feudal Baron of Bradninch, near Exeter, and Richard le Breton (or Richard de Brito) was one of the four Knights who murdered Saint Thomas Becket. On December 29, 1170 they arrived at Canterbury. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II According to accounts left by the monk Gervase of Canterbury and eyewitness Edward Grim, they placed their weapons under a sycamore tree outside the cathedral and hid their mail armour under cloaks before entering to challenge Becket. Gervase of Canterbury ( Gervasus Dorobornensis) (c 1141 &ndash c Edward Grim was a clerk from Cambridge who was visiting Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday 29 December 1170 when Thomas Becket was murdered Mail (also maille, often given as chain mail or chain maille) is a type of Armour or jewellery that consists of small metal rings linked ^[4] The knights informed Becket he was to go to Winchester to give an account of his actions, but Becket refused. Winchester or Winton ( archaic) is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40000 within a radius of its centre It was not until Becket refused their demands to submit to the king's will that they retrieved their weapons and rushed back inside for the killing. ^[4] Becket, meanwhile, proceeded to the main hall for vespers. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the The four knights, carrying naked swords, caught up with him in a spot near a door to the monastic cloister, the stairs into the crypt, and the stairs leading up into the quire of the cathedral, where the monks were chanting vespers. Several contemporary accounts of what happened next exist; of particular note is that of Edward Grim, who was himself wounded in the attack.

The burial of Becket

This is part of the written account from Edward Grim:

. Edward Grim was a clerk from Cambridge who was visiting Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday 29 December 1170 when Thomas Becket was murdered . . The wicked knight leapt suddenly upon him, cutting off the top of the crown which the unction of sacred chrism had dedicated to God. Next he received a second blow on the head, but still he stood firm and immovable. At the third blow he fell on his knees and elbows, offering himself a living sacrifice, and saying in a low voice, 'For the name of Jesus and the protection of the Church, I am ready to embrace death. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ' But the third knight inflicted a terrible wound as he lay prostrate. By this stroke, the crown of his head was separated from the head in such a way that the blood white with the brain, and the brain no less red from the blood, dyed the floor of the cathedral. The same clerk who had entered with the knights placed his foot on the neck of the holy priest and precious martyr, and, horrible to relate, scattered the brains and blood about the pavements, crying to the others, 'Let us away, knights; this fellow will arise no more. '

Following his death, the monks prepared his body for burial. It was discovered that Becket had worn a hairshirt under his archbishop's garments. Soon after, the faithful throughout Europe began venerating Becket as a martyr, and in 1173 — barely three years after his death — he was canonised by Pope Alexander in St. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints Pope Alexander III (c 1100/1105 &ndash August 30, 1181) born Rolando (or Orlando) Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 Peter's Church in Segni. Segni (in Latin Signia) is an Italian town and comune located in Lazio. On July 12, 1174, in the midst of the Revolt of 1173–1174, Henry humbled himself with public penance at Becket's tomb (see also St. Dunstan's, Canterbury), which became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in England. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. The Revolt of 1173&ndash1174 was a rebellion against Henry II of England by three of his sons his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and rebel supporters Penance is repentance of Sins as well as the proper name of the Catholic and Orthodox Christian Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession St Dunstan's is a church dedicated to St Dunstan in Canterbury, Kent, slightly out of the city centre In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance In 1220, Becket's remains were relocated from this first tomb to a shrine in the recently completed Trinity Chapel where it stood until it was destroyed in 1538, around the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, on orders from King Henry VIII. A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of The king also destroyed Becket's bones and ordered that all mention of his name be obliterated. ^[5] The pavement where the shrine stood is today marked by a lit candle. Modern day archbishops celebrate the Eucharist at this place to commemorate Becket's martyrdom and the translation of his body from his first burial place to the new shrine. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those

Aftermath and cultural references

Stained glass window of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.

Altar marking the spot of Thomas Becket's martyrdom, Canterbury Cathedral.

Local legends regarding Becket arose after his canonisation. Though they are typical hagiographical stories, they also display Becket’s particular gruffness. Hagiography ( is the study of Saints. A hagiography, from Greek (hağios (ἅγιος "holy" or "saint" and graphē (γραφή Becket's Well, in Otford, Kent, is said to have been created after Becket had become displeased with the taste of the local water. Otford is a village and Civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent. KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format Two springs of clear water are said to have bubbled up after he struck the ground with his crozier. A crosier ( crozier, pastoral staff, paterissa, pósokh) is the stylized staff of office ( Pastoral staff) carried by high-ranking The absence of nightingales in Otford is also ascribed to Becket, who is said to have been so disturbed in his devotions by the song of a nightingale that he commanded that none should sing in the town ever again. The Nightingale ( Luscinia megarhynchos) also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small Passerine Bird that was formerly In the town of Strood, also in Kent, Becket is said to have caused the inhabitants of the town and their descendants to be born with tails. This article is about the town in Kent England For the creek in Essex, see The Strood Strood is a town in the Unitary The men of Strood had sided with the king in his struggles against the archbishop, and to demonstrate their support, had cut off the tail of Becket’s horse as he passed through the town.

• Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is set in a company of pilgrims on their way from Southwark to the shrine of St. Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century (two of them in Prose, the rest in verse) Southwark or The Borough is an area of south-east London in the London Borough of Southwark, situated 1 Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a
• The story of Becket's life became a popular theme for the medieval Nottingham Alabaster carvers. Nottingham alabaster is a term used to refer to the English sculpture industry mostly of relatively small religious carvings which flourished from the fourteenth century until One set of Becket panels is displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design housing a permanent collection
• Modern works based on the story of Thomas Becket include T. S. Eliot's play Murder in the Cathedral, Jean Anouilh's play Becket, which was made into a movie with the same title, and Paul Webb's play Four Nights in Knaresborough, a film version of which is in pre-production. Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26 1888 – January 4 1965 was a poet Dramatist, and Literary critic. Murder in the Cathedral is a Poetic Drama by T S Eliot that portrays the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh (ʒɑ̃ anwi June 23, 1910 &ndash October 3, 1987) was a French Dramatist. Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu (Becket or The Honor of God is a Tony Award -winning play written in French by Jean Anouilh. Becket is a 1964 Film adaptation of the play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions Four Nights in Knaresborough is a play written by Paul Corcoran (now known as Paul Webb) and first performed at the Tricycle Theatre, London
• Thomas Becket was played by Sir Laurence Olivier in the broadway run of Jean Anouilh's play Becket, and by Richard Burton in the film version. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh (ʒɑ̃ anwi June 23, 1910 &ndash October 3, 1987) was a French Dramatist. Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu (Becket or The Honor of God is a Tony Award -winning play written in French by Jean Anouilh. Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Becket is a 1964 Film adaptation of the play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions
• An opera by Ildebrando Pizzetti based on the murder of Thomas Becket, Assassinio nella cattedrale, was first produced at La Scala in Milan in 1958. Ildebrando Pizzetti ( Parma, September 20, 1880; Rome, February 13, 1968) was an Italian Composer The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous Opera houses The theatre was Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. There is a famous live recording of the opera from the Vienna State Opera on 9 March 1960 with Hans Hotter as Becket on Deutsche Grammophon conducted by Herbert von Karajan (457 671-2). The Vienna State Opera ( Wiener Staatsoper) located in Vienna, Austria, is one of the most important Opera houses - and opera companies - in Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hans Hotter ( 19 January 1909 &ndash 6 December 2003) was a German Operatic Bass-baritone, admired internationally Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical Record label. The company has long been known for its high standards of audio fidelity. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Herbert von Karajan ( April 5

Candle marking the former spot of the shrine of Thomas Becket, at Canterbury Cathedral

• In The Black Adder, King Richard IV of England is telling the tale of the words spoken by Henry II, and a pair of knights act under his interpreted order to kill Prince Edmund, who was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time. Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a The Black Adder is the first series of the BBC Situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Prince Edmund Plantagenet Duke of Edinburgh is a Fictional character in the first series of the BBC Sitcom The Black Adder.
• In the nineteenth century, Conrad Ferdinand Meyer wrote the novella Der Heilige (The Saint) about Thomas Becket. Conrad Ferdinand Meyer ( October 11, 1825 &ndash November 28, 1898) was a poet and as he was born in Zürich, Switzerland a fellow-townsman A novella is a written, Fictional Prose Narrative longer than a Novelette but shorter than a Novel.
• Ken Follett's historical novel The Pillars of the Earth, which is mostly an account of the building of a Gothic architecture cathedral, also depicts the struggles between the Church, the gentry, and the monarchy, culminating in the assassination and martyrdom of Becket by Henry's men. Ken Follett (born June 5, 1949) is a British Author of thrillers and historical novels The Pillars of the Earth is a Historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a Cathedral in Kingsbridge See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral Gentry generally refers to people of high Social class, especially in the past A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom This fictionalised account is considered largely historically accurate, but adds one of the book's fictional villains as the fifth attacker.
• An episode of History Bites is set in the aftermath of Becket's assassination. History Bites was a Television series on the History Television network that ran from 1998 - 2003.
• Masonic scholars, seeking to establish the origin of the third degree ritual of the death of Hiram Abif, have suggested (among many other theories) that it was a re-telling of the murder of Becket. Hiram Abiff is a character who figures prominently in an allegorical play that is presented during the third degree of Craft Freemasonry. ^[6][7] This theory included reference to a company of masons in the City of London making a procession to St. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically Thomas's Chapel on his saint's day. A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a The theory suggests that there may have been an emblematic performance concerning the death of Thomas on that day.
• The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, interfaith, legal and educational institute dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions, took its inspiration and namesake from Thomas Becket. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a Non-profit organization based in Washington DC that describes itself as "a nonprofit nonpartisan interfaith ^[8]
• In 2006, in a "daft poll" carried out by the BBC, Becket was lined up alongside lesser-known historical figures such as Hugh Despenser, Eadric Streona and Thomas Arundel, and was then voted as the second "worst" Briton in history behind only Jack the Ripper. Hugh le Despenser (or Hugh Despenser) was the name of five English lords during the 13th and 14th centuries in a direct line of descent Eadric or Edric Streona (died 1017 was an Ealdorman of the Saxon Mercians "Streona" appears to have meant "the Grasper" Thomas Arundel (1353 - 19 February 1414 was Archbishop of Canterbury in 1397 and from 1399 until his death an outspoken opponent of the Lollards Jack the Ripper is an alias given to an unidentified Serial killer active in the largely impoverished Whitechapel area and adjacent districts of London ^[9][10]

Notes and references

• Sudeley, The Rt. Hon. The Lord, Becket's Murderer - William de Tracy, in Family History magazine, Canterbury, August 1983, vol. 13, no. 97, pps: 3 - 36. Becket was a saint
• Staunton, Michael (2006). Thomas Becket and his Biographers. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. ISBN 1-84383-271-2.  

Further reading

• Duggan, Anne (2005). [/ncb/history/archbishop/google. com/htp Thomas Becket—Reputations]. London: Hodder Arnold, (5). ISBN 0 340 74138 4.  

External links

• The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170
• Edward Grim’s account of the murder of Thomas Becket at the Internet History Sourcebooks Project
• The Life of S. Thomas, martyr, of Canterbury from The Golden Legend, compiled by Jacobus de Voragine, translated by William Caxton. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the Fordham University History Department and Center for Medieval Studies The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Varagine is a collection of fanciful hagiographies or lives of the Saints that became a late medieval Blessed Jacobus de Varagine or Voragine (Giacomo da Varazze Jacopo da Varazze (c (Internet History Sourcebooks Project. )
• Britannia's British History Department
• Thomas Becket: Duston & Northampton: The Honeymoon Years
• Photos and locations of 15 of the surviving Medieval Limoges Enamel Chasses for Relics of Saint Thomas Becket