Thomas Becket
Canterbury's murdered primate
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury in the twelfth century, murdered in his cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II after years of conflict over church and crown authority.
His death made him a martyr and saint, and Canterbury became medieval England's most important pilgrimage site—the destination in Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales*.
Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest? is the king's alleged complaint that spurred the killing.
Historic English ecclesiastical seat
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- altarSacred ritual table
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
murder · knights · Henry II · sacrilege · December · shrine · pilgrimage · relics
Official declaration of sainthood
- miraclesSupernatural extraordinary events
- holinessSacred spiritual purity
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
devotion · beatification · patron · shrine · pilgrimage · faithful · worship · feast day
Canterbury
Historic English ecclesiastical seat
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- altarSacred ritual table
archbishop · murder · knights · Henry II · sacrilege · December · shrine · pilgrimage · relics · veneration
canonization
Official declaration of sainthood
- miraclesSupernatural extraordinary events
- holinessSacred spiritual purity
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
intercession · devotion · beatification · patron · shrine · pilgrimage · faithful · worship · feast day · liturgy
- English Martyrs
- Medieval SaintsSaint Augustine, Aidan, Hilda, Oswald, Chad
- SaintsSaint Patrick, Saint Nicholas, Saint Valentine, Saint George, Saint Peter
- ThomasTom Sawyer, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Tom Brady, Tom Jones
- Christian MartyrsStephen, Sebastian, Lawrence, Ignatius of Antioch, Felicity
- Medieval Englandking, kings, castle, castles, knight
Thomas Becketapostate
One who renounces faith
renegade · Judas Iscariot · Thomas Cranmer · compromiser · survivor