When was thomas becket born
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Thomas Becket
Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170, Christian martyr
"Thomas a Becket" redirects here. Not to be confused with Thomas à Beckett (disambiguation).For the school in Northampton, see Thomas Becket Catholic School. For other uses, see Thomas Beckett.
Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London[1] and later Thomas à Becket[note 1] (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his death in 1170. He engaged in conflict with Henry II, King of England, over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the King in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after his death, he was canonised by Pope Alexander III. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.
Sources
The main sources for the life of Becket are a number of biographies written by contemporaries. A few of these documents are by unknown writers, although traditional historiogr
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Story of Thomas à Becket
St. Thomas à Becket – Bishop and Martyr
Born to life on December 21, 1118(?) A.D., London, England
Martyred for the Faith on December 29, 1170, Canterbury, England
Canonized: 1173 A.D. – Rome
Thomas was a tall, handsome, and intelligent young legal clerk. He had a magnetic personality and made friends easily. His remarkable memory and business ability brought him to the attention of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Recognizing in Thomas an excellent speaker who was also able to solve complicated problems, he decided that Thomas would be a good match for Henry II, the King of England and so, brought Thomas to Canterbury.
Having the archbishop’s recommendation and endorsement, King Henry II agreed to make Thomas Chancellor of England, a post he held for eight years. Thomas loved his life. He spent his money on lavish clothes, extravagant entertainment, hunting parties, and good times. A strong friendship developed between the king and his chancellor. Unfortunately, King Henry sought complete control over his kingdom and further sought control over
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Who was Thomas Becket?
Thomas Becket was an English archbishop and martyr, famously murdered by knights of Henry II at CanterburyCathedral. After his death, his tomb and relics became a focus for pilgrimage and he was made a saint.
Read more about Becket below, or use our timeline and story map resources to explore his life - and afterlife - visually.
Life and Legend
Thomas Becket was born in Cheapside, London, to reasonably affluent Norman parents who had settled in England some years earlier. He was given a good primary education at Merton Abbey and in Paris, becoming a financial clerk.
In around 1142 he entered the service of Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury. He was then sent abroad to Bologna and Auxerre to study canon law. In 1154 Becket was ordained as a deacon and became Archdeacon of Canterbury. Theobald was evidently impressed with Becket's work in this important administrative role, and used him as a negotiator in his dealing with the English monarchy.
Henry II succeeded Stephen on the throne in 1154, and the following year he raised Becket to the position of Ch
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