Biographies & Memoirs

Illustrations

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The sinking of the White Ship.

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Poor scholars, one reading a book.

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A queen greets her two sons as they prepare to fight for the throne after their father’s death. An imaginary scene from the early 14th century.

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Pevensey Castle, from where Becket rode out hunting and hawking as a teenager.

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Auxerre Cathedral. Only the crypt remains the same as when Becket studied canon and civil law within the precincts.

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The opening of Book I in the copy of John of Salisbury’s Policraticus presented by the author to Thomas Becket.

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Thomas Becket, a late 12th-century stone relief, Sens Cathedral.

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The monks’ cloister at Canterbury Cathedral.

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Henry II, an 18th-century engraving, with a panel showing Becket’s murder below.

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The ruins of the monks’ refectory at Battle Abbey.

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Pope Adrian IV.

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Orford Castle, where the keep was modelled on that at Gisors.

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Thomas Becket, a modern image made from fragments of 13th-century stained glass, Canterbury Cathedral.

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Canterbury Cathedral. The nave and western towers were rebuilt in the 14th century.

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The nave at Sens Cathedral.

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The nave at Vézelay Abbey.

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A plan of the priory of Christ Church, Canterbury, showing the cathedral and monastic buildings as they existed before the fire of 1174, including the hydraulic waterworks system installed c. 1155–67. The monks’ cloister can be seen beneath the cathedral, but the archbishop’s palace is off the plan. From an 18th-century engraving.

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The murder of Thomas Becket, showing Edward Grim attempting to deflect the knights’ blows (13th century).

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The murder of Thomas Becket, from an engraving made at Venice c. 1660.

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A clumsy 17th-century attempt to depict Becket’s post-1220 shrine.

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A king enthroned, probably Stephen who was famous for sitting with crossed legs.

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Prize falcons sitting on their perch in a niche.

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Matilda, Stephen’s rival for the throne, seated and holding up a charter.

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Archbishop Theobald crowns Henry II.

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A cardinal presiding over a busy church court.

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Pontigny Abbey, south view.

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The nave at Pontigny Abbey.

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Becket pronounces the Vézelay excommunications (left), and addresses Henry II and Louis VII at their peace conference at Montmirail, where he is reproached (right).

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Becket with Henry II (centre) and Louis VII at the peace conference at Montmirail, Sens Cathedral.

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The younger Henry is crowned and anointed by Roger of Pont l’Évêque, assisted by Gilbert Foliot and Jocelin of Salisbury (left); the elder Henry serves his son at the coronation banquet (right).

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While making ready to sail home to England, Becket is warned by Milo, dean of Boulogne, that the coasts are closely guarded.

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The oldest and most authentic image of Becket’s murder, prefacing a copy of John of Salisbury’s letter of early 1171 describing it. The arrival of the four knights is announced (above), and Reginald fitz Urse strikes the first blow (below).

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The place where Becket was murdered as it appears today.

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The burial place in the crypt.

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Henry II’s second penance at Canterbury, from a 19th-century engraving.

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Scenes from the life of Thomas Becket, Sens Cathedral.

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Miracles of healing at Becket’s pre-1220 shrine, Canterbury Cathedral.

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The shrine of St Alban, giving a very basic idea of Becket’s post-1220 shrine, St Albans Cathedral.

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