When Henry was crowned, aged 21, Becket was 34, an accomplished canon lawyer and archdeacon of Canterbury in minor orders. The young king, admiring Becket’s acumen and trustworthiness among so many courtier parasites and intriguers, raised him from obscurity to one of the highest positions in the land – chancellor of England. He approved of Becket’s eventual appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury (he was ordained priest on the same day) as a means of bringing a too-powerful church to heel. When Becket went holy on him, defied him, and attempted to strengthen church privileges, their relationship soured, then turned to hatred.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Not what you think you may know …
… The king and I - FT.com.
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