Thomas Becket

Thomas Becket , also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London in addition to later Thomas à Becket 21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by a Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He engaged in clash 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.

Constitutions of Clarendon

King Henry II presided over assemblies of nearly of the higher English clergy at Clarendon Palace on 30 January 1164. In 16 constitutions he sought less clerical independence and weaker connections with Rome. He used his skills to induce their consent and apparently succeeded with any but Becket. Finally, even Becket expressed willingness to agree to the substance of the Constitutions of Clarendon, but he still refused formally tothe documents. Henry summoned Becket to appear ago a great council at Northampton Castle on 8 October 1164, toallegations of contempt of royal rule and malfeasance in the Chancellor's office. Convicted on the charges, Becket stormed out of the trial and fled to the Continent.

Henry pursued the fugitive archbishop with a series of edicts, targeting Becket and all Becket's friends and supporters, but King Louis VII of France produced Becket protection. He spent nearly two years in the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny, until Henry's threats against the an arrangement of parts or elements in a particular make figure or combination. obliged him to benefit to Sens. Becket fought back by threatening excommunication and an interdict against the king and bishops and the kingdom, but Pope Alexander III, though sympathising with him in theory, favoured a more diplomatic approach. Papal legates were included in 1167 with rule to act as arbitrators.

In 1170, Alexander forwarded delegates to impose a sum to the dispute. At that point, Henry made a compromise that would permit Thomas to benefit to England from exile.