The murder of St. Thomas Becket in 1170 was a significant event in defining the relationship between Church and State in Mediaeval England. It called into question the validity of the King’s authority, and the extent to which the Papacy were able to claim political, as well as spiritual, supremacy in England. The murder served to significantly change the relationship between Church and State in England in several ways, and also played a part in bringing about Magna Carta in 1215, the consequences of which are still relevant to English politics today.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Becket’s rise to power
III. The relationship between Church and State prior to the murder of Becket.
IV. The murder’s immediate political impact 1170-1174
V. Longer term impact of the murder 1174-1215
VI. The role of the murder in the signing of Magna Carta (1215)
VII. Conclusion: How did the murder of St. Thomas Becket affect the relationship between Church and State in England 1170-1215?
VIII. Bibliography
IX. References
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation examines the transformative impact of the murder of St. Thomas Becket in 1170 on the power dynamics and legal relationship between the English Monarchy and the Church, exploring how this event influenced constitutional developments leading up to the Magna Carta in 1215.
- The evolution of the relationship between the Church and the Crown in the 12th century.
- The political consequences of the murder of Thomas Becket within Europe and England.
- The utilization of the Church as a political tool by Kings Henry II and John.
- The influence of growing Papal assertiveness on English internal politics.
- The connection between the martyrdom of Becket and the constitutional shifts culminating in the Magna Carta.
Excerpt from the Book
I. Introduction
Thomas Becket (also spelt Beckett) was murdered on the night of 29th December 1170 by four knights (namely Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, Reginald FitzUrse and Richard le Bret)1 acting in the name of the reigning monarch, King Henry II. The murder was the culmination of a long and bitter dispute between both Becket and the King. Becket was, at the time, serving as Archbishop of Canterbury, and his murder on the altar steps of Canterbury cathedral caused considerable political alarm throughout Europe. Although Archbishops had been murdered before Becket, never so in their own cathedral and, more importantly, never seemingly on the orders of the reigning Monarch. The murder served to considerably change the political relationship between Church and State both within England and also in other European nations. The murder also indirectly led to the signing of Magna Carta (Great Charter) by King John in 1215; an event signifying a huge constitutional change in England, the consequences of which are still relevant to politics today. How did the murder lead to this event, and in what ways did the murder affect the relationship between Church and State in England between Becket’s death and the signing of Magna Carta?
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the event of Thomas Becket's murder and sets the central research question regarding its influence on Church-State relations and the eventual signing of the Magna Carta.
II. Becket’s rise to power: The chapter details Becket's background, his close initial relationship with King Henry II as Lord Chancellor, and his transformation into a staunch defender of Church liberty upon becoming Archbishop of Canterbury.
III. The relationship between Church and State prior to the murder of Becket.: This section explores the dualistic political structure of 12th-century England, characterized by tension between royal authority and the growing temporal influence of the Church.
IV. The murder’s immediate political impact 1170-1174: The chapter analyzes the immediate European reaction to the murder and King Henry II's subsequent efforts to reconcile with the Papacy and regain domestic control.
V. Longer term impact of the murder 1174-1215: This part discusses how the murder permanently altered the Papacy's assertiveness and forced later monarchs, particularly King John, to navigate a more powerful and politically entrenched Church.
VI. The role of the murder in the signing of Magna Carta (1215): The chapter establishes the causal link between the aftermath of Becket’s death, the resulting shift in constitutional power, and the historical necessity of the Magna Carta.
VII. Conclusion: How did the murder of St. Thomas Becket affect the relationship between Church and State in England 1170-1215?: The conclusion synthesizes findings, arguing that while the State retained ultimate control, the murder fundamentally shifted the balance of power and highlighted the necessity of defining the limits of royal and ecclesiastical authority.
Keywords
St. Thomas Becket, King Henry II, King John, Magna Carta, Church and State, Papal authority, Constitutions of Clarendon, Canterbury, ecclesiastical law, Divine Right, feudal monarchy, 12th century, political history, temporal power, religious conflict
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The work focuses on the political and constitutional effects of the murder of St. Thomas Becket in 1170 on the evolving relationship between the English Crown and the Roman Catholic Church.
Which time period does this study cover?
The study specifically analyzes the period from 1170, the year of Becket's murder, through 1215, the year of the signing of the Magna Carta.
What is the primary research question?
The research seeks to determine how the murder of St. Thomas Becket affected the political relationship between Church and State in England and how it indirectly contributed to the constitutional changes represented by the Magna Carta.
What methodological approach is used?
The author uses historical analysis of political events, contemporary documentation, and an examination of shifting legal and temporal power dynamics between the monarchy and the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
What is the significance of the "Constitutions of Clarendon"?
The Constitutions are treated as a primary source of conflict, representing an attempt by King Henry II to assert royal judicial supremacy over the Church, which became a focal point of his dispute with Becket.
Which key concept characterizes the relationship between Church and State in the 12th century?
The author describes the political situation as one marked by "dualism," where spheres of influence were overlapping and boundaries between royal and church authority were often undefined.
How did King John's relationship with the Papacy change due to Becket's death?
Becket's death empowered the Papacy to assert more control, eventually leading to King John's submission, the Interdict, and his ultimate signing of the Dover Charter to regain papal favor.
Why was the Magna Carta partly a reaction to the Church-State dynamic?
The Magna Carta was influenced by the fear of baronial and secular leaders regarding the Church's growing temporal power when acting in cooperation with or under the manipulation of the Crown.
- Quote paper
- Andrew Lythall (Author), 2007, How did the murder of St. Thomas Becket affect the relationship between Church and State in England 1170-1215?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/77548
