Thomas becket Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thomas becket - Research Paper ExampleThomas was born December 21st, 1118 or 1120 in the family of a wealthy and prosperous merchant, a citizen of capital of the United Kingdom Gilbert Beket. The name Thomas was given to him because he was born on St. Thomas the Apostles day. Both Thomas parents were of Norman ancestry. Very little is cognize about Thomas childhood. What we do be is that his mother was a righteous and charitable woman, giving him some tout ensembleowance to give to the poor. That had a great daze 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- wiz, around 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 advance him to study. In accompaniment, 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 mustve gone through the whole curriculum at a modest level and acquired some knowledge of the sevensome liberal arts But clearly he had not mastered the subjects It is also clear that, in youth, he did not proceed beyond the primary 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 w as 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 editorial 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 flock 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 fact was the fact that he flatly refused to leave this post, even though he neglected his duties. Theobald disapproved his act ions 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