Thomas becket - Research Paper Example

Thomas was born December 21st, 1118 or 1120 in the family of a wealthy and prosperous merchant, a citizen of London – Gilbert Beket. The name Thomas was given to him because he was born on St. Thomas the Apostle’s day. Both Thomas’ parents were of Norman ancestry. Very little is known about Thomas’ childhood. What we do know is that his mother was a righteous and charitable woman, giving him some allowance to give to the poor. That had a great impact on him and played a key role in making him what he became in his adult life.

Becket studied between the age of ten and twenty-one, most likely between 1130 and 1141. He studied in a few educational institutions, such as the Augustinian priory at Merton in Surrey, and then in one or more of the grammar schools in London. His student life was spent in Paris. He was not a particularly studious pupil. His mother was the one who encouraged him to study. In fact, when she died, he stopped his education at age of twenty-one. Frank Barlow says about his education: Thomas’ rather sketchy education caused the biographers some difficulty.

They know that, although he was extremely intelligent, he was never much of a scholar… Presumably, because he became an archbishop and then a saint… even if he had been an inattentive schoolboy, in ten years he must’ve gone through the whole curriculum at a modest level and acquired some knowledge of the seven liberal arts… But clearly he had not mastered the subjects… It is also clear that, in youth, he did not proceed beyond the basic curriculum. His legal and theological studies pertain to later periods of his life, to professions which required those special qualifications.

(Barlow 21) Thomas’ father, Gilbert Beket suffered financial problems, so Thomas was forced to find a work. He first worked as a clerk for a relative, but later became the agent to Theobald, the then-current Archbishop of Canterbury. He was sent on a few important missions to Rome. He was entrusted with much, and his efficiency paid off. Theobald recommended him to King Henry II for the position of Chancellor. Becket was appointed to this position in January 1155. On this post, Becket showed his political brilliance – he razed castles, repaired the Tower of London, raised, prepared and led troops to war, conducted various diplomatic missions etc.

He was completely trusted by Henry II, who, besides a loyal and faithful subject, found Thomas to be a close friend and a great companion. He aided the King in his mission to subject all power into the hands of the monarch, even when his interests were contrary to those of the church. As a Chancellor, Becket lived and traveled in luxury. This strongly contradicted with his status as Archdeacon of Canterbury. Another very serious and contradicting occurrence was the fact that he flatly refused to leave this post, even though he neglected his duties.

Theobald disapproved his actions greatly, Becket when he was called on, did not appear before the dying Archbishop. This is another fact historians widely criticize. During this time the Gregorian reform had begun to be implemented, spreading from the Holy Roman Empire, Italy and France and started to influence English clerics as well. According to the reform, the clerical posts were appointed by free elections, an issue of free appeal to Rome was implemented, and other such changes, that made the church more independent from secular rule. Henry II