 |
Business | Industries | Finance | Tax |
| Index: > A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
|||||
| First Prev [ 1 2 ] Next Last |
200px 13th century manuscript illumination, the earliest known depiction of Becket's assassination
He was born in London between 1110 and 1120. His parents were of the middle class, and his family was from near Rouen in France. He received an excellent education, which he completed at the University of Paris.
Returning to England, he attracted the notice of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, who entrusted him with several important missions to Rome and finally made him archdeacon of Canterbury and provost of Beverley. He so distinguished himself by his zeal and efficiency that Theobald commended him to King Henry II when the important office of chancellor was vacant.
Henry, like all the Norman kings, desired to be absolute master of his dominions, in both Church and State, and could well appeal to the traditions of his house when he planned to do away with the special privileges of the English clergy, which he regarded as so many fetters on his authority. Becket struck him as an instrument well adapted for the accomplishment of his designs; the young man showed himself an accomplished courtier and cheerful companion in the king's pleasures and devoted to his master's interests with such a firm and yet diplomatic thoroughness that scarcely anyone, unless perhaps it was John of Salisbury, could have doubted that he had gone over completely to the royal side. King Henry even sent his son HenryHenry the Young King ( February 28, 1155 June 11, 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Fostered by Thomas a Becket, in June 1170 the fifteen-year-old Henry was crowned king during his father's lifetime, but he, later the "Young King", to live in Becket's household, it being the custom then for noble children to be fostered out to other noble houses. Later that would be one of the reasons his son would turn against him, having formed an emotional attachment to Becket as a foster-father.
Archbishop Theobald died April 18April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). There are 257 days remaining. Events 1518 Bona Sforza is crowned as queen of Poland and married to Sigismund I of Poland. 1775 Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Pre, 1161Events Bartholomew Iscanus becomes Bishop of Exeter. Births Emperor Takakura of Japan Deaths Heads of states England Henry II Curt Mantle, King of England (reigned 1154 1189). France Louis VII, King of France (reigned 1137 1180)., and the chapter learned with some indignation that the king expected them to choose Thomas his successor. That election took place in May, however, and Thomas was consecrated on June 3June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. Events 1098 Crusaders take Antioch, Turkey. 1140 French scholar, Peter Abelard found guilty of heresy. 1608 Samuel de Champlain completes his thi, 1162.
At once there took place before the eyes of the astonished king and country an unexpected transformation in the character of the new primate. Instead of a gay, pleasure-loving courtier, he stood forth an ascetic prelate in simple monastic garb, ready to contend to the uttermost for the cause of the hierarchy.
In the schism which at that time divided the Church, he declared for Pope Alexander IIIAlexander III ne Orlando Bandinelli (d. August 3, 1181), was pope from 1159 to 1181. He was born in Siena, and first made his mark as teacher of canon law at the University of Bologna, where he composed the Stroma or the Summa Magistri Rolandi one of the, a man whose devotion to the same strict hierarchical principles appealed to him, and from Alexander he received the pallium at the Council of Tours.
On his return to England, Becket proceeded at once to put into execution the project he had formed for the liberation of the Church of England from the very limitations which he had formerly helped to enforce. His aim was twofold: the complete exemption of the Church from all civil jurisdiction, with undivided control of the clergy, freedom of appeal, etc., and the acquisition and security of an independent fund of church property.
The king was not slow to perceive the inevitable outcome of the archbishop's attitude and called a meeting of the clergy at Westminster ( October 1, 1163) at which he demanded that they renounce all claim to exemption from civil jurisdiction and acknowledge the equality of all subjects before the law. The others were inclined to yield, but the archbishop stood firm. Henry was not ready for an open breach and offered to be content with a more general acknowledgment and recognition of the "customs of his ancestors." Thomas was willing to agree to this, with the significant reservation "saving the rights of the Church." But this involved the whole question at issue, and Henry left London in anger.
| Politics | Business | Finance |
 |
 |
 |
|