THOMAS BECKET: Murder and The Making of a Saint

The British Museum's superb Thomas Becket exhibition in 2021 revealed the life of a charismatic and contradictory character through spectacular artefacts. Opulent reliquary caskets and the breathtaking stained glass created soon after his martyrdom were transported to London for close-up inspection by entranced visitors to the exhibition. This book is the accompanying publication, including photos of the exhibits and an authoritative text on Becket's life, murder and legacy. Entering the service of Archbishop Theobald in the mid-12th century, Becket was an urbane diplomat who enjoyed the good things in life. During the civil wars in which the crown was claimed by both the daughter and nephew of Henry I, Theobald stayed loyal to whomever was the ruling monarch, and Becket, now Chancellor, is likely to have followed suit. On Theobald's death Henry II asked Becket to succeed him, and he was hastily ordained for the purpose. But Becket took his new role as churchman seriously and refused to ratify measures that would restrict the church. Henry exiled him for six years and on his return incited four knights to take Becket's life. The outcry that followed elevated Becket to the status of martyr and he was canonised in 1173, three years after his death. His cult spread round the world, and by 1180 he was commemorated in a huge mosaic in the great apse of Monreale Cathedral in Sicily, while in Santa Maria de Terrassa near Barcelona there are wall paintings of a similar date depicting his life. In 1174 a fire destroyed much of Canterbury Cathedral, and the rebuilding elevated Becket's shrine to a position where it became a major pilgrimage attraction, as described in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The jewel-coloured stained glass windows of around 1210 show the miracles attributed to the saint, while stained glass in French cathedrals such as Chartres concentrated on his life and death. King Henry II made several penitential visits to the shrine, which was dismantled by Henry VIII. 22 x 25cm, British Museum Press 272pp, colour photos.