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Thomas Becket

Saint
Thomas Becket
Archbishop of Canterbury
De Grey Hours f.28.v St. Thomas of Canterbury.png
Illumination from an English Book of Hours presenting a spirited account of the murder of Becket, c. 1390, National Library of Wales
Appointed 24 May 1162
Installed 3 June 1162
Term ended 29 December 1170
Predecessor Theobald of Bec
Successor Richard of Dover
Orders
Ordination 1154 (deacon)
2 June 1162 (priest)
Consecration 3 June 1162
by Henry of Blois
Personal details
Born 21 December c. 1119
Cheapside, London
Died 29 December 1170(1170-12-29)
Canterbury Cathedral
Buried Canterbury Cathedral
Denomination Roman Catholic
Parents
  • Gilbert Beket
  • Matilda
Previous post Archdeacon of Canterbury
Sainthood
Feast day 29 December
Venerated in
Title as Saint Bishop and Martyr
Beatified 21 February 1173
by Pope Alexander III
Canonized 21 February 1173
St Peter's Church in Segni
by Pope Alexander III
Attributes Sword, martyrdom, episcopal vestments
Patronage Exeter College, Oxford; Portsmouth; Arbroath Abbey; secular clergy
Shrines Canterbury Cathedral
Lord Chancellor
In office
1155–1162
Monarch Henry II
Preceded by Robert of Ghent
Succeeded by Geoffrey Ridel

Thomas Becket (/ˈbɛkɪt/; also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London, and later Thomas à Becket; 21 December c. 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 both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He engaged in conflict 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.

The main sources for the life of Becket are a number of biographies that were written by contemporaries. A few of these documents are by unknown writers, although traditional historiography has given them names. The known biographers are John of Salisbury, Edward Grim, Benedict of Peterborough, William of Canterbury, William fitz Stephen, Guernes of Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Robert of Cricklade, Alan of Tewkesbury, Benet of St Albans, and Herbert of Bosham. The other biographers, who remain anonymous, are generally given the pseudonyms of Anonymous I, Anonymous II (or Anonymous of Lambeth), and Anonymous III (or Lansdowne Anonymous). Besides these accounts, there are also two other accounts that are likely contemporary that appear in the Quadrilogus II and the Thómas saga Erkibyskups. Besides these biographies, there is also the mention of the events of Becket's life in the chroniclers of the time. These include Robert of Torigni's work, Roger of Howden's Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi and Chronica, Ralph Diceto's works, William of Newburgh's Historia Rerum, and Gervase of Canterbury's works.


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