Constitutions of Clarendon

The Constitutions of Clarendon, established in 1164 by King Henry II of England, were a set of legal reforms aimed at limiting the power of church officials and asserting royal authority over church matters. They defined the relationship between the monarchy and the clergy, including rules for clergy accused of crimes and restrictions on church courts. The reforms aimed to bring church officials under royal jurisdiction, reducing their independence. The Constitutions caused significant conflict with church leaders, especially Archbishop Thomas Becket, and marked an important moment in the development of medieval English law and church-state relations.