Becket debacle

Question 1

1159

Answer 1

John of Salisbury’s Policraticus
church has supreme authority over the crown
shows growing theological argument that secular authority is subordinate to ecclesiastical authority

Question 2

Becket’s actions that challenge royal will 1155-62

Answer 2

B gets H2 to appoint bishops to absent sees
Becket transforms the chancellorship, increases no of clerks from 16-52
1159 H2 and Becket have a major falling out at Tolouse over whether to continue fighting

Question 3

Becket’s actions that support H2 1155-62

Answer 3

HtY is entrusted to Becket’s household
B sits with barons and bishops to decide on legal cases in the curia regis
1157 Great Council in Northampton- B supports H2’ declaration of war on Welsh princes
1159 B taxes prelates outrageously for H2
1159 700 of B’s knights fight for H2 during the Tolouse campaign
1159 B leads an army on behalf of H2 in Normandy and Quercy
1159 negotiates marriage of HtY and Margaret with Louis, securing H2 the Vexin

Question 4

1162

Answer 4

Becket made archbishop of Canterbury in May
dismounts at the gates of C and enters the city on foot like a pilgrim
officially installed in June- had been unwilling
receives his pallium in August- shows Becket’s spiritual authority
autumn- B resigns and returns the Great Seal to H2

Question 5

Decretum Gratiani

Answer 5

c.1150 compilation of canon law wants ecclesiastical courts

Question 6

Becket priority as a/b of C

Answer 6

keep the status quo- not appropriate for a clerk to be mutilated and St Jerome in the old testament “God does not judge the same case twice”

Question 7

Pope Alexander III

Answer 7

eager to please H2 and prepared to work around judging the same case twice

Question 8

1152

Answer 8

B appointed Lord Chancellor

Question 9

Christian Roman Empire precedent

Answer 9

clerk examined in a secular court, then sent to a judge for punishment if the bishop accepted the criminal charge was true

Question 10

H2 priority

Answer 10

uphold his coronation oath- refers specifically to law and justice, which is pivotal to royal authority
have a cooperative working relationship with the a/b of C, like he did with Theobald
at Woodstock 1163 proposes if a priest convicted in a church court then they are defrocked and tried before a royal court

Question 11

Willam the Conqueror

Answer 11

1080 Council of Lillebonne asserts royal authority over church

Question 12

problem of criminous clerks

Answer 12

100 murders by clerks 1154-63, countless cases of robbery and theft
1 in 5 men claim “benefit of the clergy”

Question 13

Jan 1162

Answer 13

H2 reissues at Rouen the decrees of the Council of Lillebonne 1080 in which WtC asserted his right to nominate bishops and rule the church in Normandy

Question 14

1163

Answer 14

July- Council of Woodstock, B refuses pay sheriff’s aid directly to the Exchequer, orders bishops to only agree to “customs of England” “save their order” H2 fuming
summer- Becket acquits a clerk, Philip de Brois, of likely murder of a knight, with only two years penance
October- Council at Westminster, H2 takes B’s castles Eye and Berkhamsted, takes back HtY,
Winter seeks a papal legateship for B’s rival the bishop of York

Question 15

1164 Jan

Answer 15

Council of Clarendon and Constitutions of
attempt by H2 to return to before the Anarchy
clerks to be defrocked and tried in royal courts if found guilty in a church court
reasserts control of the crown over the church
Becket accepts reluctantly subject to papal approval

Question 16

1164 Oct

Answer 16

Council at Northampton- B summoned to stand trial for embezzlement
Becket flees afterwards

Question 17

1164 August

Answer 17

Becket refused access to H2 at Woodstock and tries to flee unsuccesfully

Question 18

1164 winter

Answer 18

H2’s representatives and Becket himself appeal to the Pope Alexander III at Sens- refuses to confirm CsoC but does make ab of York papal legate
Dec H2 dispossesses B and his clerks, exiles his household and relatives

Question 19

1165

Answer 19

Pope asks Gilbert Foliot to help, Gilbert threatens loss of H2’s support against the anti-pope, asks that B doesn’t provoke H2

Question 20

1166

Answer 20

H2 meets B’s clerks but no compromises

June- B formally condemns C’soC

Question 21

1167

Answer 21

B refuses to accept CsoC at meeting with some Eng bishops and papal legates

Question 22

1168

Answer 22

Pope promises Becket restoration of his authority after March 1169

Question 23

1169

Answer 23

April- Becket excommunicates bishops Gilbert of Foliot and Jocelin of Salisbury as well as an earl and seven royal officials
Montmirail peace- “saving the honour of my God”
Montmartre- H2 refuses kiss of peace

Question 24

1170

Answer 24

Pope absolves Foliot after appeal
June- HtY crowned by Roger of York in violation of Canterbury’s rights
July B threatens to place England under interdict, H2 and B meet at Freteval and agree B’s return
November Becket excommunicates Bishops of York, Salisbury and Foliot
December Becket lands in England, upholds communications, three bishops go to H2 in Normandy

Question 25

Becket’s murder

Answer 25

29 Dec 1170
murdered in Canterbury Cathedral
knights after hearing H2 fume in court about B
many reports of Becket’s blood being miraculous

Question 26

Becket to blame

Answer 26

had been riding at the head of an armed guard- provoke H2

Question 27

response to Becket murder 1170

Answer 27

H2 shuts himself in room for 3 days
Pope excommunicates the knights and anyone who had given them shelter
Pope forbids H2 from entering a church and refuses to see anyone English for a week, sends envoys to judge whether H2 is humble enough

Question 28

1171

Answer 28

H2 establishes authority for the pope in Ireland

Question 29

1172

Answer 29

Compromise of Avranches May
very vague- diplomacy
H2 has to release bishops from oath regardinf CofC and abolish “evil customs” he had introduced
H2 does penance at Avranches, swearing to give money for 200 knights to Crusade, restore all property to Canterbury, not to obstruct appeals to Rome, abolish all customs prejudiced to the Church

Question 30

1173

Answer 30

crown and church in familiar pattern of reinforcing and supporting each other
Alexander refuses to give the Pope support in a conflict against Louis
H2 does penance at Canterbury and then puts down Great Rebellion

Question 31

1176

Answer 31

H2 agrees with the Pope that there should be benefit of the clergy except in special circumstances e.g. forest law and that he won’t hold a bishopric empty for more than a year and if anyone guilty of murdering a clerk they and their heirs should be disinherited