Henry II, Thomas Becket and the Church

Henry II, Thomas Becket and the Church

Before we go on… • The Norman Kings and who they were: • 1066-1087 King William the Conqueror • 1087-1100 King William Rufus (son of William) • 1100-1135 King Henry I (William Rufus brother) • 1135-1154 King Stephen (nephew of Henry I)

More Kings and who they were • 1154-1189 King Henry II (grandson of Henry I) • 1189-1199 King Richard I (third son of Henry II) • 1199-1216 King John (fifth son of Henry II) • 1216-1272 King Henry III (son of John) • 1272-1307 King Edward I (son of Henry III) • 1307-1327 King Edward II (son of Edward I) • 1327-1377 King Edward III (son of Edward II)

And some more! • 1377-1399 King Richard II (grandson of Edward III, son of the Black Prince) • 1399-1413 King Henry IV (grandson of Edward III, son of John of Gaunt) • 1413-1422 King Henry V (son of Henry IV) • 1422-1461 King Henry VI (son of Henry V) • 1461-1483 King Edward IV (youngest son of Edward III ) • 1483-1485 King Richard III (uncle of Edward V)

But you do not need to know all these! I just thought you might like a list somewhere! (as they are not in your textbook)

So far… • ….we have looked how England was controlled by the king (all about castles, and who was given land, the owing of allegiance etc) • We have looked at the lives of the poor people and the rich people in the villages and towns • And there was a passing mention of how important the Church was

So today we are going to look at.. • the reign of King Henry II (grandson of Henry I) 1154-1189 • the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket - a very well known event • And why it happened • And this has a lot to do with the influence of the church over the state (the government of the country)

Church and state • In medieval times the Church was very important. • One reason for this was obvious - the Church helped people to worship God. • Also many churchmen could read and write, unlike the majority of the population. • So the clergy were relied on to write documents like receipts (showing you had paid your taxes), or contracts (for when you sold your land).

Church and state • Another reason was that the Church owned a lot of land, and that meant money and power. • And finally the top men in the Church were the bishops. • They were very important people and usually belonged to powerful families.

Bishop and King • The most powerful churchman in England was the Archbishop of Canterbury. • The Archbishop and the King had to work very closely together. • If they did not, then it was almost impossible to run the country.

Bishop and King • In 1154, when Henry became king, Theobald was Archbishop • Henry asked Theobald for advice on choosing his government ministers. • On the suggestion of Theobald, Henry appointed Thomas Becket as his chancellor

King and Chancellor • Becket's job was an important one as it involved running the country on a day –to-day basis. • The king and Becket soon became close friends. • They both enjoyed wealthy, privileged lifestyles. • They had both enjoyed lots of hunting and feasting together.

Bishop and King • When Theobald died, Henry wanted his friend Becket to become Archbishop of Canterbury • Becket did not really want the job, as he said it spoil their friendship • But Henry insisted

Bishop and King • There was a battle developing between state and church • And Henry thought that with Thomas in charge of the church, he would have fewer problems • Henry, of course, assumed that his friend would take his side • He was SO wrong!

Bishop and King • What no one realised was that Becket would take his new role quite so seriously. • He gave notice of this by resigning the chancellorship. • He wore a hair shirt under his colourful archbishop’s robes • He regularly fasted • He took the church’s side in everything

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • Some Secondary evidence • Henry and Becket argue. From the 'Chronicle of England' by Peter of Langtoft • England; • circa 1307-1327

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • The crunch came with Henry's attempts to deal with the problem of 'criminous clerks'. • About one in six of the population of England were clergymen, many of whom were not ordained to the priesthood.

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • These lay clergy could claim the right to be tried in ecclesiastical courts like the ordained priests. • There, they would almost always receive a lighter sentence than if tried in the criminal courts of the land.

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • Before Henry, Stephen and Matilda had ruled and a lot of criminal behaviour had gone unchecked • For Henry, the problem was to restore order after the chaos • This included sorting out the 2 court system

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • But Becket saw the problem more as one of the power of the church being kept in tact

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • The problem was brought to a head by the case of Philip de Brois, a canon of Bedford who was acquitted in the court of the Bishop of Lincoln of the charge of murdering a knight.

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • The Sheriff of Bedford tried to re-open the case in the Royal court, but he failed. • Henry angrily demanded justice on the charge of murder and on an additional charge of contempt.

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • Becket attempted to solve the problem by banishing Philip, • but the whole affair merely showed up how inadequate the canon (church) law was in punishing robbers and murderers.

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • Henry tried to solve this by proposing that clergy convicted of such serious crimes in the church courts should be handed over to the secular (state) courts for punishment. • It was a neat compromise, but ….

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • …..it meant that a man handed over to criminal law was no longer a clerk. • This did away with church protection • This was why Becket could not accept it, and nor did any of the bishops

Disagreements between Henry II and Becket • After lots of discussion, Henry bullied the bishops into accepting many of the things they disagreed with • Becket signed it but said that he would repent afterwards! • The king was furious! • It meant that although Becket had signed, the Pope would never give permission as he knew what Becket thought, and Becket was a favourite of his.

Henry and Thomas • Henry was known to have a bad temper • In the end Thomas fled England, as Henry tried everything to get his own back • Henry had him tried on trumped-up charges, he took away his land and exiled many of his relatives.

In the end … • They made up, with the help of the Pope and Thomas returned to England. • But no sooner did Henry leave for France, then Thomas excommunicated several churchmen, including the Archbishop of York, who had supported the King whilst he was away. • Excommunication was very serious, as it meant you were condemned to Hell FOREVER!

When Henry heard … • Henry was furious, and shouted to his knights "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?" • Nobody knows whether he meant this as a death threat.

But … • What we do know is that four knights left immediately • Led by one Reginald Fitz Urse, they slipped across the Channel to Canterbury • There they tried to force Becket to return with them and face the King's wrath. • He refused and they retired to bed.

When Henry heard … • The four knights fell on him with their swords. He died later that afternoon on 29 December 1170. • Next day, while he was leading mass, they tried to drag him out of the cathedral. • In this struggle he received a blow on the head which seems to have tipped the whole thing over into violence

Afterwards • The whole of Europe was shocked by the murder. • Henry walked barefoot from London to Canterbury to show he was sorry. • After his death, Becket was made a saint, and Canterbury Cathedral became a shrine for pilgrims to visit.

Afterwards • The fact that so many people thought Becket was a saint affected the way they wrote about him after his death. • Historians have found it hard to find accounts of the events of 1170 which are not in favour of Becket. • And Henry had to give in over the church courts

Who was to blames – and who wasn’t?

Homework • Next week we will open up Radio Canterbury. • The date: 30 December 1170 • The day before Thomas had been murdered. • Everyone has an opinion and they are all different. • I will be the interviewer and I want you each to put forward your case – so you are going to have to be prepared to talk! So make sure that your microphones are working! • You have each been given a role – see the homework sheet – you may prepare your answers and read them or you can just think about what to say and do it that way. You have to give in homework every week so all I want is a few brief notes as to what you are going say!

Henry II, Thomas Becket and the Church