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Becket was excommunicating his opponents in the church, and the king saw this as a nuisance. Henry II was speaking of killing him, but didn't actually mean it. His soldiers took it upon themselves to act in the king's interests and murdered him. This is why there was a memorial made for him; the King felt guilty.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHe didn't actually want Becket dead because they were friends but once he found out that he began obeying God and not him he said to himself get rid of him. His knights were there and heard him say that so they thought that he ment to kill Thomas Becket. Once Henry found out he tried to go and save Becket but it was too late.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHe did not send anyone and you need to read much more about the events to gain a much better understanding of what happened.
King Henry and Archbishop Thomas had a volatile and tempestuous relationship, meaning that they could hardly speak without losing their tempers with each other. Henry made Thomas very angry and Thomas made Henry very angry, mainly due to differences in their opinion about law and the Church.
At the Court in Normandy, Henry, in a fit of temper (and probably very drunk) shouted something about "being rid of this nuisance of a priest" - meaning that he wished that Thomas would just go away back into exile so Henry could take control of Church Law himself.
Four of the king's knights, who probably had motives of their own for murdering the Archbishop, took it on themselves to kill him. They conspired with several others, including a cleric (Churchman) named Hugh de Horsea and several other land-holding knights in Kent and elsewhere and on 29 December 1170 murdered the Archbishop at Canterbury Cathedral - on Holy ground, in a sanctified church where no weapons may be used and no blood spilled. The king could never have dreamed of ordering such a thing.
As it was, Henry got the blame despite not issuing the order for the killing. Thomas Becket also won the argument, since Henry was now so unpopular that he gave up all plans to take control of Church law; and he undertook several severe penances to absolve himself of all blame.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIt is obviously not possible to know the unspoken thoughts in a historical figure's mind - we can only go by the evidence of what writers claimed Henry II said about Archbishop Becket. At no time did Henry say that he wanted to kill Becket, at least no writer recorded such a wish.
Henry said something like "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest", which could be simply a wish for Becket to go back into exile in France. It does not constitute an incitement to commit murder and no modern court of law in the world would convict Henry on the basis of those words.
The four knights and the chaplain who committed the murder understood the words in their own way, without checking with the king, so the responsibility and blame lies entirely with them.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThomas Becket had a strong commitment to the church and wouldn't break the rules for the king.
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What weapons were used to kill Thomas Becket?
Thomas Becket was killed by four knights who used their swords to kill him.
Why did Thomas Becket die and why?
Henry, who was in Normandy at the time was furious with Thomas and supposedly shouted out: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four of Henry's knights, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, Reginald Fitz Urse, and Richard Ie Bret, who heard Henry's angry outburst decided to travel to England to see Becket when they got to England they found Thomas in the cathedral there they tried to force him outside to kill him when they refused the Knights struck him with there swords until he died. thomas took four hits to kill and on the third hit the knight'd sword broke, that was how hard he was hit.
Did Thomas Becket want to die?
The people thought that Thomas Becket was a traitor because he didnt agree with the kings view of the church. so people thought he was a traitor because he used to be good friends with King Henry II and now they think he is being disloyal to him which they thought meant he was a traitor. Thomas Becket was not a traitor though.
Why was Thomas o becket murdered 1700?
because he betrayed the king by becoming a holy man and the king got angry and his solider kill him
What happened on December 29th 1170?
Thomas Becket was killed because Henry II said "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" some of Henry's knight heard this a and went of to kill him.
Why did King Henry II get angry with Thomas Becket?
King Henry II got angry because Thomas Becket betrayed him by kicking out all the loyal people in the church of England and also kicked out the Archbishop of York. So king Henry II sent out knights to search and to kill Thomas Becket. Then King Henry II tried to stop the nights but it was too late. So that is why King Henry II got angry with Thomas Becket.
How did King Henry react to Thomas Beckets death?
King Henry didn't won't his guards to kill Thomas Becket but he said the line "Will no-one raid me of this troublesome priest!" in a jokey sort of way but his guards herd him and went to kill Becket. The king was ashamed of what he said and walked out bare foot and in rags and let people thow stones at him because he was so upset.
What did Henry VIII have against Thomas Becket?
Nothing. By the time Henry VIII was alive, Becket had been dead for a very long time. You might be confusing Thomas Becket with Thomas More. More opposed Henry on several levels and was ultimately beheaded. Type "Thomas More" into your search engine of choice and do a little research. It's an interesting subject.
What weapons were used to kill Thomas Becket?
Thomas Becket was killed by four knights who used their swords to kill him.
Why did Thomas Becket die and why?
Henry, who was in Normandy at the time was furious with Thomas and supposedly shouted out: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four of Henry's knights, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, Reginald Fitz Urse, and Richard Ie Bret, who heard Henry's angry outburst decided to travel to England to see Becket when they got to England they found Thomas in the cathedral there they tried to force him outside to kill him when they refused the Knights struck him with there swords until he died. thomas took four hits to kill and on the third hit the knight'd sword broke, that was how hard he was hit.
Where did they kill Thomas Becket?
Canterbury cathedral
Did Thomas Becket want to die?
The people thought that Thomas Becket was a traitor because he didnt agree with the kings view of the church. so people thought he was a traitor because he used to be good friends with King Henry II and now they think he is being disloyal to him which they thought meant he was a traitor. Thomas Becket was not a traitor though.
Why was Thomas o becket murdered 1700?
because he betrayed the king by becoming a holy man and the king got angry and his solider kill him
What is the power struggle between Henry II and archbishop thomas becket about?
They argued about who should have more power. The church or the king. one example is that the church wanted to bring criminals to justice in their own ways whilst the king wanted people judged in the royal court. in the end Henry made a mistake, saying that he wanted to kill Becket. Three of his knights over heard him and without having alliance to kill they assassinated him.
What happened on December 29th 1170?
Thomas Becket was killed because Henry II said "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" some of Henry's knight heard this a and went of to kill him.
How did King Henry's five knights kill Thomas Beckett?
cut him open
How was Thomas Becket assassinated?
Four knights stormed into Caterbury Cathedral where Becket was praying. At first they did not attempt to kill him although that was the end result. One of the knights struck him, cutting off the top of his head. Blood and brains went everywere and after they had literally slaughtered him his body was almost unrecognisable.
