When was thomas becket born

Facing increasing pressure from the people of Canterbury, the monks opened the crypt of the Cathedral so pilgrims could visit his tomb. An extraordinary wave of miracles was recorded and, in recognition of this, Becket was made a saint canonised by the Pope on 21 February It was one of the fastest canonisations in history. In his body was moved from the crypt to a glittering new shrine in a purpose-built chapel upstairs in the Cathedral.

Geoffrey Chaucer famously captured something of the atmosphere of pilgrimage to this shrine in his Canterbury Tales. In death Becket remained a figure of opposition to unbridled power and became seen as the quintessential defender of the rights of the Church.

To this end you can find images of his murder in churches across Latin Christendom, from Germany and Spain, to Italy and Norway. Becket was, and remains, a truly European saint. His relics at Canterbury were visited by people from across the continent until , when Henry VIII would label him a traitor, order the destruction of his shrine and try to wipe him from history altogether.

That, however, is a story for another time. Thomas Becket: murder and the making of a saint is open 20 May — 22 August Find out more about the exhibition and book tickets here. Buy the richly illustrated catalogue accompanying the exhibition. Map Data. Terms of Use. Report a map error. This Italian city was the capital of the Roman Empire and, with the primacy accorded to the bishops of Rome the popes , the centre of the Western Church from the late-Antique period onwards.

Rome was not only the administrative centre, but an important source of innovation, relics and liturgy. Missionaries from Rome played an important role in the conversion of Anglo-Saxon England from late 6th century onward. Head of the medieval church in the West. A geographical area composed of a number of parishes, under the administrative and spiritual jurisdiction of a Bishop.

The term for those who had 'taken the cross' - that is made a vow to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and had a cross sewn into their garments as a sign of this vow.

This term is often applied more specifically to those who formed the armies sent to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim powers and establish Christian rule from onwards.

From the thirteenth century onwards, 'crusades' were also declared against other groups of non-Christians such as the Lithuanians, and heretical groups such as the Albigensians. Participation in any enterprise declared to be crusade carried indulgences and those who died on crusade might be regarded as martyrs. Title eventually used as name given to Jesus. City in the south east of England; the seat of England's senior archbishop, who is also bishop of the diocese of Canterbury.

It was here that St Augustine of Canterbury d. In the Anglo-Saxon period Canterbury's monasteries were places of learning and artistry. After the Norman Conquest the cathedral was magnificently rebuilt by Archbishop Lanfranc and embellished by Archbishop Anselm. The martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket in added to the cathedral's prominence as a place of pilgrimage and the east end of the church was dramatically remodelled in the Gothic style.

Administrative officer of the Bishop. Presided over ecclesiastical courts. Unpopular in the medieval church and often suspected of corruption. The body of literature and knowledge gathered from both written and oral sources which relates to the lives and posthumous miracles of the saints. A common form of written source for hagiography is the biographical vita Latin 'Life'.

Hagiography is now also the name given to the study of saints and their cults. A group of pseudo-historical saints who are either undated or associated with the period around CE.

The saints who are generally recognised as part of this group, such as St Katherine, St Barbara, St Margaret, St Juliana, St Agnes, St Dorothy, St Ursula and St Wilgefortis, are all female, but some historians claim that the legends of certain male saints, particularly figures such as St George and St John the Evangelist, are strongly influenced by the standard formulation of the virgin martyr story.

Who was Thomas Becket? Life and Legend Thomas Becket was born in Cheapside, London, to reasonably affluent Norman parents who had settled in England some years earlier. St Thomas Becket. Pilgrim Badge associated with St Thomas Becket. Saints Thomas Cantilupe left and Thomas Becket right. Cult Archbishop Thomas Becket appears in a vision. Reliquary depicting St Thomas Becket's murder and entombment. Sam Riches Shrine. One who suffers death on account of faith.

Collection of ecclesiastical rules governing faith, morals and discipline. An ordained minister who ranks immediately below a priest in the hierarchy of the Church. The king and his archbishop's friendship was put under strain when it became clear that Becket would now stand up for the church in its disagreements with the king.

In , realising the extent of Henry's displeasure, Becket fled into exile in France, and remained in exile for several years. He returned in On the 29 December , four knights, believing the king wanted Becket out of the way, confronted and murdered Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.

Becket was made a saint in and his shrine in Canterbury Cathedral became an important focus for pilgrimage. England, first half of the 15th century. In an unexpected move, Henry nominates Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury following Theobald's death. He is consecrated in a grand ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral on 3 June The pictured panel from an altarpiece shows the event taking place.

Becket sits between two bishops who touch his mitre. Henry hoped that Becket would stay on as chancellor as well as being archbishop. Much to his surprise Becket refuses, rejects the chancellorship and begins to oppose him. Over the next two years their relationship completely disintegrates. Detail from the Becket Leaves. England, c. Private collection. With the situation worsening, Becket is brought before the king and accused of trumped-up crimes.

Fearing for his life, he flees abroad where he spends six years in exile under the protection of Henry's rival, Louis VII of France. Several unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation are made. Eventually a fragile peace between Henry and Becket is agreed in Becket returns to Canterbury in early December, but within weeks he is dead.

Becket is killed in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights loyal to Henry. On arriving at the archbishop's palace in Canterbury the situation soon spirals out of control. After arguing with Becket, they pursue him into the cathedral and strike him down.