HISTORY'S CURRENTS
THE MURDER OF THOMAS A' BECKET

In 1154, Henry Plantagenent assumed the throne of England after almost 20 years of anarchy and civil war following the demise of Henry I. Henry II came from an important family in France where the Plantagenent family's lands included half of the country. Henry II was catapulted to infamy in World History as a result of his attempt to dominate the affairs of the Roman Catholic Church in England, especially his desire to extend royal control over the church courts operating in England at the time. This struggle with the church ended with the infamous murder of Henry's hand picked Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas a' Becket, in 1170.

Thomas a' Becket was a companion of Henry while the young king sowed his wild oats. The two were constant party companions and Henry eventually elevated Becket, a wealthy commoner of Norman stock, to the prestigious office of Chancellor. Between 1155 and 1162, Henry, with Becket by his side, improved the English judicial system. Henry allowed all freemen to sue in the king's courts, curbed the power of and often ended baronial courts, and introduced the jury system into English law. Expecting major opposition from church leaders over the question of the ecclesiastical courts, Henry had Thomas a' Becket appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. With his friend and former Chancellor now holding the premier spot in the English Church, Henry felt he was ready to take on the church courts in the country.

In 1164, Henry moved against the power of the church courts in England. The Constitutions of Claredon were enacted requiring that clerics convicted of crimes against English law would be turned over to the civil authorities and punished as common criminals convicted in the English courts. Henry knew that the penalties handed out by church courts were much less severe than the punishments doled out by the civil courts. The Constitutions also limited appeals to the Papal Court in Rome. Henry also realized that the laws and courts of England could never be centralized as long as the ecclesiastical courts were allowed to operate independently of the English courts.
Henry expected the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas a' Becket, to acquiesce to the royal demands. Becket protested that Henry's demands amounted to double jeopardy and was an illegal interference with the church. The argument continued for six years, many of them with Becket in exile. Finally, Henry and Becket reached an uneasy peace and Becket returned from exile.

Henry was known for his fiery temper and fits of rage. In one temper tantrum, Henry was reported to have torn open a mattress and eaten some of the straw stuffing in the bed. In 1170, while Henry was in France, several of his French knights took Henry's drunken railings against Becket too literally, crossed the English Channel, and killed Becket on December 29th while he prayed at the alter at Canterbury Church. The murder of a cleric at prayer enraged the nation, and Henry was forced to perform public penitence for his role in the murder.Archbishop Thomas a' Becket was canonized on February 21, 1173, by Pope Alexander III. Henry died in 1189 with his sons in rebellion against him. His sons, Richard the Lionhearted and John, of Magna Carta fame, were urged to rebellion by Henry II's wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

History's currents, or current history? You decide!

EDITOR'S NOTE: The trials of Henry II have been the subject of several movies staring Peter O' Toole as Henry. "Becket," starring Richard Burton as Thomas a' Becket, portrays the life of Henry and Becket from 1154 to 1170, including the feud and murder. Henry's later years provide the inspiration for "The Lion In Winter," staring Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine.