Henry II and Thomas Becket

A new Archbishop

n April of 1161, Theobald of Bec, the Archbishop of Canterbury, died after an illness. King Henry II was informed and he expressed the wish to have his friend Thomas Becket elected as archbishop. Thomas Becket was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury on June 3rd and on August 10th he accepted the pallium sent by the Pope. A pallium is a piece of cloth sent by the Pope and is woven from white lamb's wool. It is draped around the neck.

Constitutions of Clarendon

In October 1163 and again in January of 1164, King Henry II put his plans before the Council of Westminster to reform the judicial system allowing the courts power over members of the Church which had the luxury of its own courts. These reforms known as the Constitutions of Clarendon were series of statements laid down by the King the relationship between the church and the state.One statement stated that a member of the church who committed a crime should be available to be tried in a state court and not just a church one. This was the cause for the rift between King Henry and the new Archbishop.

Council of Northampton

At the Council of Northampton the Welsh rebellion and the Constitution of Clarendon were discussed. The Council tried Thomas Becket and found him guilty of perjury for failure to appear at Council and heresy. Becket was sentenced to forfeiture of his possessions. The sentence was quashed by Pope Alexander III and Becket fled to Lincoln on the 14th and then France in early November.