Birth of Thomas a BecketDecember 1118
Birth of Thomas a Becket
Historical person
Thomas a Becket Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Thomas a Becket, based on 34 World History Database records associated with England.
34 records1118–117323 events13 places
Chronological biography
1118
1143
Archbishop1143
Obtains a post in the household of the Archbishop of Canterbury
1154
Archbishop1154
Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury1154
Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
1155
Lord Chancellor1155
Appointed Chancellor, the highest official in England
1159
Invasion of France1159
Leads an English invasion to assert Eleanor of Aquitaines rights but is driven off
Siege of Toulouse1159
Leads an English invasion to assert Eleanor of Aquitaines rights but is driven off
1161
Constable of Tower of London1161
Appointed Constable of the Tower of London
Tower of London1161
Appointed Constable of the Tower of London
1162
Archbishop of Canterbury1162
Resigns as Lord Chancellor after being consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury
Resignation of Thomas a Becket1162
Resigns as Lord Chancellor after being consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury3 June 1162
Consecrated as Archbishop & then changes loyalty from Henry II to the Church
Consecration3 June 1162
Consecrated as Archbishop & then changes loyalty from Henry II to the Church
1163
Council of Westminster1 October 1163
Leads the Bishops in opposition to the Councils rulings
Council of Woodstock8 October 1163
Thomas a Becket defeats Henry IIs attempts to raise a land tax
1164
Constitution of England1164
Refuses to seal the Constitutions of Clarendon
Council of Clarendon1164
Becket rejects the Council of Clarendon & is condemned at the Council of Northton
Exile of Thomas a Becket1164
Secretly leaves Northampton to seek exile abroad
Exile of Thomas a Becket1164
Arrives at Sandwich in order to leave the shores of Britain
Exile of Thomas a Becket1164
Arrives at Flanders to seek his exile
Council of Northampton8 October 1164
Defends himself by use of the "benefit of clergy". Accused of embezzlement while Chancellor
1166
Papal Legate1166
Pope Alexander III appoints Thomas Beckett Papal legate against the will of Henry II
1170
Assassination of Thomas a Becket1170
Possible excommunication leads Henry to say "who will rid me of this turbulent priest"
Coronation1170
Returns to England after 6 yrs & excommunicates Bishops who had crowned Henry. Persuades Pope Alexander III to suspend the Bishops who crowned Prince Henry
Dismissal1170
Persuades Pope Alexander III to suspend the Bishops who crowned Prince Henry
Excommunication1170
Returns to England after 6 yrs & excommunicates Bishops who had crowned Henry. Excommunicates the Archbishop of York & 2 Bishops who assisted Henrys coronation
Exile of Thomas a Becket1170
Issues Henry II an interdict, Henry yields & allows Becket to return to England. Henry II allows Becket to return to England
Coronation27 November 1170
Recrowns Henry II
CoronationDecember 1170
Returns to England after 6 yrs & excommunicates Bishops who had crowned Henry
ExcommunicationDecember 1170
Returns to England after 6 yrs & excommunicates Bishops who had crowned Henry
Assassination of Thomas a Becket29 December 1170
Murdered by 4 of Henry IIs knights at the alter of St Benedict, Canterbury cathedral
Death of Thomas a Becket29 December 1170
Death of Thomas a Becket, assassinated
1172
Canonization1 March 1172
Canonized by Pope Alexander III
1173
Canonization1173
Thomas a Becket is canonized
Titles and roles
Archbishop of Canterbury · Constable of Tower of London · Lord Chancellor · Papal Legate
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.