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The King and The Archbishop: Henry II of England & Thomas Becket

© Phyllis Agronsky

Without doubt, a pivotal moment in the reign of Henry II Plantagenet came in the dispute between the king and Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. During the early years of the reign, Becket and the king had been boon companions. Becket was Henry's Chancellor and he oversaw the daily administration of government. Although Becket had risen to prominence in the service of the Church, he was not a priest. His was a secular administration, and his efficiency and devotion to his duty were single minded.

Becket had been instrumental in Henry's ascension to the throne in 1154. He had been sent by Archbishop Theobald to Rome to persuade the Pope that the only way to bring an end to England's civil war was to support the Plantagenet claimant. Becket's reward for his success was the post of Chancellor.

Becket understood the king's vision of government and law and made it happen. They were friends, and the young scholars who were drawn by the Chancellor's reputation could often find Henry at Becket's table as well, come to listen and participate.

When Archbishop Theobald died, Henry decided that Becket should be Archbishop and chancellor; in every confrontation with the Church, Becket had been solidly on the side of the state. When the king sent his selection for Archbishop to the monks of Canterbury, they were stunned. Henry was firm, however, and the monks submitted to the king's will, on the condition that Becket be ordained. Becket complied, and Henry got his way. Or so he thought. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/wi...

During the debate and maneuvering surrounding his elevation to the See of Canterbury, Becket had undergone what can only be described as a spiritual epiphany. His table still hosted the finest minds in the kingdom, but instead of sumptuous meals, they were more likely to eat simple fare, while the archbishop dined on bread and water.

This should have been a warning to the king, but Henry either missed it, or ignored it. He was shocked when the new archbishop resigned as chancellor. When the first test of wills came, he found his friend in firm opposition to him.

Most priests, abbots, monks and bishops were honest, God-fearing men. Scattered among them, however, were murderers, rapists and theives, who took refuge behind their collars and defied a government trying desperately to put justice on a businesslike basis. The church had always refused to let its members be tried in secular courts, and repeated attempts to change this had caused a dangerous division between the spiritual and secular branches of the government.