What is Thomas Becket birthday?

Thomas Becket was born at 1118-12-21

When was Thomas Becket died?

Thomas Becket was died at 1170-12-29

Where was Thomas Becket died?

Thomas Becket was died in Canterbury

Which age was Thomas Becket died?

Thomas Becket was died at age 52

Where is Thomas Becket's birth place?

Thomas Becket was born in Cheapside

What is Thomas Becket nationalities?

Thomas Becket's nationalities is British

What was Thomas Becket universities?

Thomas Becket studied at University of Paris, Merton Priory

What is Thomas Becket's cause of dead?

Thomas Becket dead because of Assassination

What is Thomas Becket's religion?

Thomas Becket's religion is Catholicism

Who is Thomas Becket's father?

Thomas Becket's father is Gilbert Becket

Who is Thomas Becket's mother?

Thomas Becket's mother is Matilda Becket

How famous is Thomas Becket?

Thomas Becket is famouse as Saint

Thomas Becket - Spiritual, Family and Childhood

Home › British › Thomas BecketDecember 21, 1118420 views

Thomas Becket Biography Stories Embed this Biography stories

Table of contents

Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Timeline
FAQ

Assassination British Leaders Spiritual & Religious Leaders Sagittarius Celebrities

Thomas Becket's Personal Details

Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his assassination in 1170

Information	Detail
Birthday	December 21, 1118
Died on	December 29, 1170
Nationality	British
Famous	Leaders, Spiritual & Religious Leaders, Religious Leaders, Saint, Spiritual
Known as	Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London, Thomas Ã�ï¿½Ã�Â Becket
Universities	University of Paris Merton Priory
Cause of death	Assassination
Birth Place	Cheapside
Religion	Catholicism
Gender	Male
Father	Gilbert Becket
Mother	Matilda Becket
Sun Sign	Sagittarius
Born in	Cheapside
Famous as	Saint
Died at Age	52

// Famous Saint

Bernadette Soubirous

Saint Bernadette was a Christian Saint who had Marian apparitions of a small young lady who identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Know more about her childhood, life and works in this brief biography

Alexandra Feodorovna

Alexandra Feodorovna was the last Tsaritsa of the Russian empire. This biography profiles her childhood, reign, events, life and timeline

Kabir

Kabir was a much revered 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint. This biography of Kabir provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Thomas Becket's photo

Last First

Who is Thomas Becket?

Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his assassination in 1170 and was also popular as Saint Thomas of Canterbury or Thomas of London. He was the son of Gilbert and Matilda Becket. Over the course of history his father’s exact profession has somewhere been lost but it is believed that they were financially well off and Thomas received the best of education available. After school, he attended the University of Paris for a year and in the same time his father suffered a financial setback. To pay for his expenses he did secretarial work in a couple of offices before joining the household of Theobald, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. With his rigorous work ethic and remarkable diplomatic skills he won over the archbishop and became his most trusted employee. Theobald sent him to the University of Bologna to study canon law and when he returned, bestowed upon him several offices including that of deacon and later on the office of archdeacon. His life moved up a notch when he met King Henry II and became his Chancellor; the two developed a meaningful working relationship based on mutual admiration and respect. Trouble began brewing when the king elevated Thomas to the status of Archbishop, which ultimately led to the latter’s controversial assassination

// Famous Religious Leaders

Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad was the founder of Islam, one of the most widespread religions in the world. This biography profiles his childhood, life story, achievements and more.

Murad IV

Murad IV was one of the mighty Sultans in the history of the Ottoman Empire. This biography profiles his childhood, family, accession, rule, administration and timeline.

Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle is a well-known spiritual leader, and author. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, spiritual awakening, etc.

Childhood & Early Life

Thomas Becket was born in London, England on St. Thomas Day, i.e. December 21, 1118. His father was Gilbert Becket and his mother was Matilda. He also had a sister named Mary.

At the age of 10, he became a student of Merton Priory and then of a grammar school. For further education he went to the University of Paris.

His mother passed away while he was in Paris and his father suffered a financial crisis. These developments meant Thomas Becket had to fend for himself and eventually he became a clerk in the sheriff’s court.

Later, he did secretarial work for Sir Richer de l’Aigle and Osbert Huitdeniers, the Justiciar of London. In all the offices he had held so far, he showed great ability and spirit.

Later Life

In 1141 Thomas Becket met Theobald, then Archbishop of Canterbury and started working for him. Theobald was impressed by the young man's intelligence and diplomatic skills and he sent Thomas to study canon law in Paris for a year.

After returning he became the provost of Beverley, and canon at Lincoln and St. Paul's Cathedrals. He was made the deacon in 1154 and eventually the archdeacon of Canterbury.

With the death of King Stephan of England there were several claimants to the throne lay open to claim and several clamwere made. With his diplomacy Thomas got Henry of Anjou crowned as the King Henry II in 1154 and in return was rewarded with Chancellorship under the new king.

The newly crowned King Henry II coveted more power and believed controlling the Church would do that. He was presented with the perfect opportunity when Archbishop Theobald passed away in 1161 and he wanted Thomas Becket to hold the ecclesial office.

Becket had a totally different viewpoint to the king’s proposal as being a chancellor blessed him with considerable power and influence already. He believed that if ordained, the king would ask him to perform tasks that might not uphold the sanctity of the archbishop’s office and he refused.

In spite of Becket’s refusal, the wish of the king presided. Thomas Becket was ordained as a priest by Walter, bishop of Rochester, and anointed as the Archbishop by the bishop of Winchester in 1162.

The king's ploy backfired and he was offended as Becket, upon being appointed the archbishop, became a man of the Church by adopting the papacy and canon law, and resigned from his chancellorship. The king, after finding no way to reason with Thomas Becket, demanded his resignation from archdeaconry.

In 1163 the king called the other bishops for a council in Westminster to try and incite them against the Archbishop. He presented them with his grandfather's customs (Constitutions of Clarendon) which defined the rights of the king over the Church and with enough pressure the bishops accepted the terms.

With all the bishops on his side, the king believed winning over Becket might be easy but he refused yet again at the Clarendon Palace. With more pressure from the king and a word of caution from his brethren Becket finally yielded but refused to sign any agreement based on it.

In 1164 the king summoned him to a trial at Northampton Castle on the charges of misusing his funds. The bishops and barons found him guilty, but Becket retorted that he could only be judged by the Pope.

Becket left Northampton under a disguise and fled abroad. He informed the Pope of his decision to resign, but the Pope didn’t accept it. The Pope appointed him as the Cistercian Abbot at Pontigny and could do nothing more as he himself was a refugee.

King Louis of France too was dragged into the quarrel between King Henry II and Becket, and he met Henry in 1169 for a conference at Montmirail and pleaded Becket’s case.

In 1170, Roger de Pont L’Evegue (Archbishop of York) accompanied by two other bishops crowned Henry’s son, which violated the coronation privileges of Canterbury. Becket excommunicated the three clergymen instantly. The same year, Becket returned to England in spite of the risk to his life.

Angry over the excommunication of the bishops who crowned his son, King Henry II erupted into a fit of rage. The king uttered a statement which was taken as a royal command by four knights—Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—to kill Becket, and they headed off to Canterbury and assassinated him.

Personal Life & Legacy

Thomas Becket honored his Church duties by remaining celibate throughout his life.

He was assassinated on December 29, 1170 by four knights, Reginald fitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton. four knights, Reginald fitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton

Thomas Becket was canonised on February 21, 1173 by Pope Alexander III at the St. Peter’s Church in Segni.

// Famous Spiritual