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Thomas Becket was born in Canterbury circa 1120.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historical records indicate Thomas Becket was born in London, likely around December 21, 1119, or 1120, not in Canterbury.
Thomas Becket's parents, Gilbert Beket and Matilda, were of humble peasant stock with no notable connections.
Answer: False
Explanation: Gilbert Beket was a merchant and former sheriff of London, and his family had Norman origins. Matilda was also of Norman descent. While not nobility, they were established members of London society.
Becket's early education included extensive studies in canon law at the University of Bologna.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Becket did study canon law in Bologna, this occurred after his initial education and during his service to Archbishop Theobald, not as part of his earliest schooling.
As Lord Chancellor, Becket was responsible for enforcing the king's revenue collection from all landowners, including ecclesiastical institutions.
Answer: True
Explanation: The role of Lord Chancellor involved significant administrative duties, including the enforcement of royal revenue collection across all sectors of society, including the Church.
Thomas Becket was born in the year 1119 or 1120.
Answer: True
Explanation: Historical consensus places Thomas Becket's birth year around 1119 or 1120.
Prior to his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, what was Thomas Becket's primary public role?
Answer: The Lord Chancellor of England.
Explanation: Before assuming the position of Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket served as the Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry II.
Thomas Becket's parents were Gilbert Beket and whom?
Answer: Matilda
Explanation: Thomas Becket's mother was named Matilda.
Thomas Becket was born in London around which year?
Answer: 1119 or 1120
Explanation: Thomas Becket is believed to have been born in London circa 1119 or 1120.
Who was Archbishop Theobald of Bec in relation to Thomas Becket's career?
Answer: Becket's mentor who advanced his career.
Explanation: Archbishop Theobald of Bec was a significant mentor to Thomas Becket, employing him in his household and facilitating his studies and early career advancements.
Thomas Becket served as Archbishop of Canterbury prior to his tenure as Lord Chancellor of England.
Answer: False
Explanation: Thomas Becket served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1155 to 1162, and subsequently as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his death in 1170. His role as Chancellor preceded his archiepiscopal appointment.
King Henry II appointed Thomas Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury with the expectation that Becket would continue to prioritize royal interests over Church rights.
Answer: True
Explanation: King Henry II appointed Becket, his close associate and Chancellor, to the archbishopric anticipating that Becket would remain subservient to the Crown's interests, a calculation that proved incorrect.
The Constitutions of Clarendon were royal decrees designed to increase the independence of the English clergy from royal authority.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of royal decrees intended to assert royal authority over the Church and limit clerical independence, directly contradicting the statement.
Becket's resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury marked the beginning of his conflict with King Henry II.
Answer: False
Explanation: Becket resigned his chancellorship upon becoming Archbishop, and it was this transition, coupled with his assertion of Church rights, that initiated the conflict with King Henry II, not a resignation from the archbishopric.
Becket's conflict with Henry II was primarily driven by Becket's desire to accumulate personal wealth and power separate from the king.
Answer: False
Explanation: The conflict stemmed from Becket's defense of the Church's rights and privileges against royal encroachment, not from personal avarice. His adoption of an ascetic lifestyle after becoming Archbishop contradicts the notion of seeking personal wealth.
Thomas Becket was excommunicated by Pope Alexander III for defying King Henry II during the Constitutions of Clarendon dispute.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Becket was in conflict with Henry II, it was primarily the bishops who crowned the Young King who were excommunicated by Becket. Becket himself was often in precarious standing with the Pope, who sought to mediate rather than excommunicate Becket.
What was the central issue leading to the conflict between Thomas Becket and King Henry II?
Answer: The jurisdiction of secular courts over clergy versus Church rights.
Explanation: The fundamental disagreement revolved around the extent of royal authority over the Church, specifically concerning the trial and punishment of clergy by secular courts, which Becket opposed.
What significant event occurred in 1164 involving Thomas Becket and King Henry II?
Answer: Becket fled England after resisting the Constitutions of Clarendon.
Explanation: In 1164, following his resistance to the Constitutions of Clarendon and facing charges of contempt, Becket fled England into exile.
What was the purpose of the Constitutions of Clarendon?
Answer: To strengthen royal control over the Church.
Explanation: The Constitutions of Clarendon were a legislative effort by King Henry II to subordinate the Church's legal and administrative powers to those of the Crown.
What was the likely reason King Henry II appointed Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury?
Answer: He believed Becket would remain loyal to the Crown and support royal policies.
Explanation: Henry II appointed Becket, his trusted Chancellor, anticipating that he would continue to align Church interests with royal policy, a miscalculation that led to their profound conflict.
What does the phrase "turbulent priest," attributed to King Henry II, likely refer to?
Answer: Becket's perceived defiance and disruptive actions against royal authority.
Explanation: The epithet "turbulent priest" reflects King Henry II's frustration with Becket's staunch defense of Church privileges and his perceived opposition to royal commands.
Where did Becket seek protection during his exile from England starting in 1164?
Answer: France, under King Louis VII
Explanation: During his exile, Thomas Becket found refuge primarily in France, under the protection of King Louis VII.
What was the outcome of the charges of contempt and malfeasance brought against Becket at Northampton Castle?
Answer: Becket was convicted, leading to his flight from England.
Explanation: At Northampton Castle in 1164, Becket was convicted on charges of contempt and malfeasance, prompting his subsequent flight into exile.
Thomas Becket was murdered in London shortly after fleeing England in 1164.
Answer: False
Explanation: Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170, several years after he fled England in 1164.
Pope Alexander III canonized Thomas Becket in 1170, the same year he was murdered.
Answer: False
Explanation: Pope Alexander III canonized Thomas Becket on February 21, 1173, more than two years after his murder in 1170.
The four knights who assassinated Becket were immediately executed by King Henry II.
Answer: False
Explanation: The four knights fled after the assassination and were subsequently ordered by the Pope to undertake service in the Holy Lands as penance, rather than being executed by the King.
The four knights who assassinated Becket were Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton.
Answer: True
Explanation: Contemporary accounts consistently identify these four individuals as the knights who carried out the assassination of Thomas Becket.
Becket's body was discovered after his death to have worn a hairshirt, signifying his piety and commitment to penance.
Answer: True
Explanation: Upon preparing Becket's body for burial, monks discovered he had worn a hairshirt, which was interpreted as evidence of his asceticism and devotion to penitential practices.
King Henry II publicly performed penance at Becket's tomb primarily to appease the Pope and avoid excommunication.
Answer: False
Explanation: While appeasing the Pope was a consideration, Henry II's public penance at Becket's tomb in 1174 occurred during a period of significant political turmoil (the Revolt of 1173-1174) and served to demonstrate his contrition and seek divine favor amidst rebellion.
The sculpture marking Becket's martyrdom site at Canterbury Cathedral represents the four swords used by the assassins.
Answer: True
Explanation: The sculpture at the martyrdom site symbolizes the event by depicting the four swords wielded by the knights, often represented by the swords themselves and their shadows.
Where was Thomas Becket murdered?
Answer: Canterbury Cathedral
Explanation: Thomas Becket was assassinated within the walls of Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170.
Who were the four knights implicated in the assassination of Thomas Becket?
Answer: Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton.
Explanation: The historical accounts of Becket's murder consistently name Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton as the perpetrators.
What happened to the four knights after they assassinated Thomas Becket?
Answer: They fled, sought papal forgiveness, and were ordered to serve in the Holy Lands.
Explanation: Following the assassination, the knights fled and eventually sought absolution from Pope Alexander III, who imposed a penance requiring them to serve in the Holy Land for fourteen years.
How did it become known that Becket's body wore a hairshirt?
Answer: It was found by monks preparing his body for burial after his murder.
Explanation: Monks preparing Becket's body for burial discovered the hairshirt he wore beneath his vestments, which was widely interpreted as a sign of his penitential devotion.
What action by the Archbishop of York and other bishops preceded Becket's assassination?
Answer: They crowned Henry the Young King, infringing Canterbury's privilege.
Explanation: The Archbishop of York, along with the Bishops of London and Salisbury, crowned Henry the Young King without Becket's permission, violating the traditional rights of the Archbishop of Canterbury and leading Becket to excommunicate them.
Becket's shrine in Canterbury Cathedral quickly fell into disuse after his death.
Answer: False
Explanation: Becket's shrine became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe, attracting vast numbers of visitors until its destruction during the English Reformation.
The "translation" of Becket's body in 1220 involved moving his remains to a more prominent and elaborate shrine.
Answer: True
Explanation: The ceremony of translation in 1220 marked the relocation of Becket's remains from their original burial site to a magnificent new shrine in Canterbury Cathedral's Trinity Chapel, significantly enhancing the site's status as a pilgrimage destination.
The "water of Saint Thomas" referred to a sacred spring discovered near Canterbury Cathedral with healing properties.
Answer: False
Explanation: The "water of Saint Thomas" was a practice involving water mixed with the martyr's blood, believed to possess miraculous properties, rather than a natural spring.
The "Miracle Windows" in Canterbury Cathedral's Trinity Chapel depict scenes from Becket's life and miracles attributed to him.
Answer: True
Explanation: These windows are renowned for illustrating numerous miracles attributed to Thomas Becket, serving as visual testaments to his veneration as a saint and martyr.
What was the significance of the "translation" of Becket's body in 1220?
Answer: It involved moving his remains to a grand new shrine, boosting pilgrimage.
Explanation: The translation ceremony in 1220 involved relocating Becket's remains to a magnificent shrine, which significantly amplified the site's importance and attracted increased numbers of pilgrims.
What practice involved drinking water mixed with the martyr's blood, believed to have miraculous properties?
Answer: The "water of Saint Thomas"
Explanation: The practice known as the "water of Saint Thomas" involved consuming water mixed with the martyr's blood, which was believed to possess miraculous healing qualities.
During the English Reformation, King Henry VIII ordered the destruction of Becket's shrine and the suppression of his cult.
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1538, King Henry VIII ordered the demolition of Becket's shrine and the eradication of his veneration as part of the broader Dissolution of the Monasteries and the English Reformation.
Geoffrey Chaucer's *The Canterbury Tales* does not mention Thomas Becket or his shrine.
Answer: False
Explanation: Geoffrey Chaucer's *The Canterbury Tales* prominently features pilgrims journeying to Canterbury Cathedral specifically to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket, making it a central element of the work.
Thomas Becket is honored as a co-patron saint of London alongside Saint Paul.
Answer: True
Explanation: Thomas Becket is recognized as a co-patron saint of London, sharing this designation with Saint Paul, reflecting his enduring connection to the city where he was born.
The name "Thomas à Becket" was the standard and contemporary form used during his lifetime.
Answer: False
Explanation: The form "Thomas à Becket" is a later appellation, first appearing centuries after his death. During his lifetime, he was known simply as Thomas Becket.
Becket's sister, Mary, was appointed as the Archbishop of Canterbury after his death.
Answer: False
Explanation: Becket's sister, Mary, was appointed Abbess of Barking Abbey, not Archbishop of Canterbury. The role of Archbishop is exclusively held by clergy.
Arbroath Abbey in Scotland was founded and dedicated to Saint Thomas Becket shortly after his birth.
Answer: False
Explanation: Arbroath Abbey was founded by King William the Lion of Scotland in 1178, eight years after Becket's death, and was dedicated to him, reflecting his widespread veneration.
The Becket Casket, now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a medieval reliquary depicting scenes from Becket's life.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Becket Casket is indeed a significant medieval reliquary, notable for its enamel work depicting scenes from the saint's life, and is preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The arms of the city of Canterbury are derived from the attributed heraldic arms of Thomas Becket.
Answer: True
Explanation: The heraldic symbols associated with the city of Canterbury are indeed based upon the attributed arms of Saint Thomas Becket.
Which of the following was a primary source for studying the life of Thomas Becket?
Answer: Contemporary biographies written by his associates.
Explanation: Numerous biographies penned by individuals who knew Becket or lived during his time constitute the most significant primary source material for understanding his life and career.
Which famous literary work features pilgrims traveling to Thomas Becket's shrine?
Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer's *The Canterbury Tales*
Explanation: Geoffrey Chaucer's seminal work, *The Canterbury Tales*, is structured around a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
During the English Reformation, what fate befell Thomas Becket's shrine?
Answer: It was destroyed by order of King Henry VIII.
Explanation: As part of the English Reformation, King Henry VIII ordered the destruction of Becket's shrine in 1538.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a contemporary biographer of Thomas Becket?
Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer
Explanation: While Geoffrey Chaucer wrote extensively about pilgrimage to Becket's shrine, he is not considered a contemporary biographer of Becket himself. Biographers like John of Salisbury and William fitz Stephen wrote during or shortly after Becket's lifetime.
What was the "Becket Casket" primarily used for?
Answer: Holding relics of Becket for veneration.
Explanation: The Becket Casket, a medieval reliquary, was created to house relics associated with Saint Thomas Becket, facilitating their veneration.
How did Becket's cult spread to Sicily, according to the text?
Answer: Through Norman conquest and influence.
Explanation: The spread of Becket's cult to regions like Sicily is attributed to the extensive Norman influence and connections that existed across Europe during the medieval period.
What modern organization's mission is inspired by Thomas Becket?
Answer: The defense of Church rights by Thomas Becket.
Explanation: The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a US-based organization, draws its inspiration from Thomas Becket's historical defense of the Church's rights and freedoms.
Which modern artistic work is based on the story of Thomas Becket?
Answer: *Murder in the Cathedral* by T. S. Eliot
Explanation: T. S. Eliot's play *Murder in the Cathedral* is a significant modern dramatic work centered on the martyrdom of Thomas Becket.
What historical period saw the suppression of Thomas Becket's cult and the destruction of his shrine?
Answer: The English Reformation
Explanation: The suppression of Becket's cult and the destruction of his shrine occurred during the English Reformation under King Henry VIII.
What is the significance of the name "Thomas à Becket" as mentioned in the text?
Answer: It is a later form of his name, first used centuries after his death.
Explanation: The appellation "Thomas à Becket" is a later construct, first appearing in the late 16th century, and was not used during the Archbishop's lifetime.
In a 2005 poll by BBC History magazine, how was Thomas Becket ranked among 12th-century Britons?
Answer: Worst Briton
Explanation: In a 2005 poll conducted by BBC History magazine, Thomas Becket was selected by historians as the "worst Briton" of the 12th century.