# Thomas Becket is murdered (1170)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1170-thomas-becket-is-murdered
Categories: main-event

Knights associated with Henry II killed the Archbishop of Canterbury inside his cathedral. Within the broader Norman & Angevin Britain period, Norman conquest, cross-Channel lordship and royal reform created a new aristocracy and a more centralized monarchy. This event is placed at 29 December 1170 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. Becket's martyrdom shocked Europe and forced the king into public penance.

## Why it matters
Becket's martyrdom shocked Europe and forced the king into public penance.

Ruler at the time: [Henry II](https://english-history.com/rulers/henry-ii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Thomas Becket is murdered](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Thomas+Becket+is+murdered&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Thomas Becket is murdered](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Thomas+Becket+is+murdered)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281000%E2%80%931499%29)
- [The National Archives — medieval education resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)