King Henry II's followers assassinate Archbishop Thomas Becket
In a power struggle between church and state, King Henry II's hot-headed words spark a deadly confrontation. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is brutally murdered by four of the king's knights inside the sacred walls of Canterbury Cathedral. This senseless act of violence sends shockwaves throughout medieval Europe, and Becket's martyrdom ultimately cements his sainthood in both the Anglican Communion and Catholic Church.
Occurred on: December 29th, 1170