theservantsofthebloodyflames

Thomas Becket was born C. 1118 in Cheapside, London, Gilbert Becket of Thierville and Matilda (with a familiar name Roheise or Rosa) from Mondeville in Caen . Gilbert, the son of a knight, took trade in silk and velvet, and in London property owner, residing in its rent. They were buried in the cathedral of Old St. Pauls. There is a story that Thomass mother was a princess Saracens who met and fell in love with his English father while he was on a crusade or a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and then to his home, was baptized and married him. This story is not true he was a producer of the three centuries after the martyrdom of the saint and inserted as a forgery in the modern (Edward Grim in 12 century) Life of St. Thomas.

One of the wealthy father of Thomas friends, Richer de LAigle, was attracted to the sister of Thomas. He often invited Thomas to his estates in Sussex. There, Thomas learned to ride a horse, hunt, behave like a gentleman, and participate in popular sports such as jousting. Beginning when he was 10, Becket received an excellent education in civil and canon law at Merton Priory in England, and then in Paris, Bologna and Auxerre. Richer subsequently signed by the constitutions of Clarendon against Thomas.

Upon his return to England, he attracted the attention of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, who entrusted him with several important missions to Rome and finally made him Archdeacon of Canterbury, and rector Beverly. He distinguished himself by his zeal and efficiency that Theobald recommended him to King Henry II, when the important office of Lord Chancellor was vacant. Henry appointed Becket as Chancellor in 1155.

Henry wanted to be the absolute ruler of his kingdom, the Church and State, and could find no precedents in the traditions of the throne, when he intends to end the special privileges of English clergy, which he regarded as fetters on his authority. As Chancellor, Becket enforced the king of the traditional medieval land tax that was exacted from all landowners, including churches and dioceses. This creates difficulties as discontent Becket among the English clergy. To further involvement Becket as a secular man, he experienced courtier, and an extravagant and hilarious companion to the pleasures of the king. Thomas was devoted to the interests of Henry so firm and yet diplomatic thoroughness that scarcely anyone, except perhaps John of Salisbury doubted his loyalty to the English royalty.

King Henry even sent his son Henry to live in the household Becket, it is the custom then for noble children need to develop linkages with other noble houses. Henry was reported to have said Becket showed him more fatherly love in a day than his father all his life. Emotional attachment to Becket as a foster father may have been one of the reasons the young Henry would turn against his father.

Thomas Becket, later also known as Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his assassination in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. He has been involved in the conflict with King Henry II of England over the rights and privileges of the church and was killed by supporters of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after the death of Thomas Becket, Pope Alexander canonized him and killed the priest was elevated to sainthood.

The monks were afraid that Beckets body might be stolen. To prevent this from happening, Becket continued to be placed under the floor of the eastern crypt of the cathedral. Stone cover was placed on the grave with two holes, where the pilgrims could insert her head and kissed the coffin, this arrangement is shown in the Miracle of Windows Trinity Chapel. Bodyguards House (now the wax chamber) had a clear idea of the grave. In 1220, the bones Becket had been transferred to the new gilded and decorated with precious stones for the temple altar in the chapel of the Trinity. The shrine has been supported by three pairs of columns, located on a hill in three stages. This can be illustrated in one of the windows of a miracle. Canterbury, because of its religious history, has always saw a large number of pilgrims. Nevertheless, after the death of Thomas Becket, the number of pilgrims visiting the city grew rapidly.