Saint Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr

Thomas Becket , also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English cleric and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his death in 1170. He is known for his conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. He was canonised by Pope Alexander III two years after his death. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The main sources for the life of Becket are a number of biographies written by contemporaries. A few of these documents are by unknown writers, although historiography has given them names. The known biographers are John of Salisbury, Edward Grim, Benedict of Peterborough, William of Canterbury, William fitz Stephen, Guernes of Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Robert of Cricklade, Alan of Tewkesbury, Benet of St Albans, and Herbert of Bosham. The other biographers, who remain anonymous, are generally given the pseudonyms of Anonymous I, Anonymous II (or Anonymous of Lambeth), and Anonymous III (or Lansdowne Anonymous). Besides these accounts, there are also two others that are likely contemporary that appear in the Quadrilogus II and the Thómas saga Erkibyskups. Besides these biographies, there is also the mention of the events of Becket's life in the chronicles of the time. These include Robert of Torigni's work, Roger of Howden's Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi and Chronica, Ralph de Diceto's works, William of Newburgh's Historia Rerum, and Gervase of Canterbury's works. Another account appears in Expugnatio Hibernica ("Conquest of Ireland", 1189) by Gerald of Wales. Becket was born c. 1119 (or 1120 according to later tradition) at Cheapside, London, on 21 December, the feast day of Thomas the Apostle. He was the son of Gilbert and Matilda Beket.